Jeffrey Lewis - Scowling Crackhead Ian (Manhattan ) lyrics
[Jeffrey Lewis - Scowling Crackhead Ian Manhattan lyrics]
Scowling crackhead Ian
I can't forget your face
You were a foul human being
Way back on St mark's Place
A white thug when we were both poor
A life struggling for one quarter more
In sixth grade that's what you'd mug me for
A switch blade pressed up to my jugular
So I feared for my next
Safe streets were few
My nerves grew wrecked near the Second Avenue
I soon learned how to steer clear
Of a crook or a crew and now I'm still here
And look, so are you
Forever you've been crackhead Ian
It was your kid nickname if we spoke it
You were an insane human being
Whether you ever did or
Didn't really smoke it
I'd know that tall thin bent-over stroll
All sun burned and grim since
Ten or twelve years old
I guess yesterday is gone
Faces still intend our souls
An I guess both our mom's places
Are still on rent control
I was that wick, small, sad, sag, punier guy
You was as big
Tall and bad back in junior high
No sight of someone's face
Has ever been scarier
You'd come chase me from Street
Fighter One or Space Harrier
Hello again, crackhead Ian
I still can't forget your foul face
My fellow human being
I know we're both still planted
On St mark's Place
We've lived our poor lives in close parallel
Within this four or five blocks
We both know so well
You must have grew up near the
Former theater or old gross hotel
I'm sure you're aware of me here
But oh I can't tell
It seems you never outgrew
Your little preteen rage
I still see you look so mean
Though now we are middle-aged
I was eavesdropping last year at
You laughing to tell
About bashing some dude with a
Chair till he fell
I slipped fast by you talking fear
And our eyes would touch
Drifting past by new mornings that
It all changed so much
I've never known your live story I'm
Sure it's rotten and tough
But how long before these roles for
Us have gotten old enough?
You must've had it so rough kid
Well I wonder
Forged by a tiny portion of love or fortune
Goes lightning or goes thunder
You're a bad one crackhead Ian
A sad son and sunburned pig
But of all the best kids
Seen downtown in our pre-teens
It's just you and me left I think
How long till you notice?
How long until you shake my hand?
How long until we're old man neighbours?
Last tribesmen of the vanished plant
We never even did exchange names
You were an evil kid from Hades
When we played these arcade games
That made life great in the 80's me and Ian
Me and Ian ryding into the night of an
East-village dream with these
Games in the street and the head and
I can't forget your face
You were a foul human being
Way back on St mark's Place
A white thug when we were both poor
A life struggling for one quarter more
In sixth grade that's what you'd mug me for
A switch blade pressed up to my jugular
So I feared for my next
Safe streets were few
My nerves grew wrecked near the Second Avenue
I soon learned how to steer clear
Of a crook or a crew and now I'm still here
And look, so are you
Forever you've been crackhead Ian
It was your kid nickname if we spoke it
You were an insane human being
Whether you ever did or
Didn't really smoke it
I'd know that tall thin bent-over stroll
All sun burned and grim since
Ten or twelve years old
I guess yesterday is gone
Faces still intend our souls
An I guess both our mom's places
Are still on rent control
I was that wick, small, sad, sag, punier guy
You was as big
Tall and bad back in junior high
No sight of someone's face
Has ever been scarier
You'd come chase me from Street
Fighter One or Space Harrier
Hello again, crackhead Ian
I still can't forget your foul face
My fellow human being
I know we're both still planted
On St mark's Place
We've lived our poor lives in close parallel
Within this four or five blocks
We both know so well
You must have grew up near the
Former theater or old gross hotel
I'm sure you're aware of me here
But oh I can't tell
It seems you never outgrew
Your little preteen rage
I still see you look so mean
Though now we are middle-aged
I was eavesdropping last year at
You laughing to tell
About bashing some dude with a
Chair till he fell
I slipped fast by you talking fear
And our eyes would touch
Drifting past by new mornings that
It all changed so much
I've never known your live story I'm
Sure it's rotten and tough
But how long before these roles for
Us have gotten old enough?
You must've had it so rough kid
Well I wonder
Forged by a tiny portion of love or fortune
Goes lightning or goes thunder
You're a bad one crackhead Ian
A sad son and sunburned pig
But of all the best kids
Seen downtown in our pre-teens
It's just you and me left I think
How long till you notice?
How long until you shake my hand?
How long until we're old man neighbours?
Last tribesmen of the vanished plant
We never even did exchange names
You were an evil kid from Hades
When we played these arcade games
That made life great in the 80's me and Ian
Me and Ian ryding into the night of an
East-village dream with these
Games in the street and the head and