Lyrics Conor Oberst

Conor Oberst

Afterthought

I woke up this morning still wearing that tie

The one with the hammer and sickle design

Threw up all the pills my doctor prescribed

And I went out to fetch me some air

This world was so crowded with billboards and signs

Two trucks double parked in parallel lines

I thought about breakfast but settled on wine

Always choose hunger over despair

And what's possible over what's there

Because it isn't as though we get what we want

No matter how hard or long we have fought

And my happiness is a mere afterthought

When I'm with her I keep it in mind

Then she leaves and I've run out of time

I sat down today in a high barber's chair

To hear the town gossip and clean up my hair

He said she was seen on the bus station stairs

With her suitcase threatening to walk

Not sure how true it was but I'll hazard a guess

It's probably not more and it's probably not less

If that college kid bookie was accepting bets

The brackets would mostly be chalk

It's safe to assume that she's lost

But it isn't as though we get what we want

No matter how hard or long we have fought

And my happiness is a mere afterthought

When I'm with her I keep it in mind

Then she's gone and I've run out of time

I can't be concerned with the state that I'm in

At the height of the scandal with vertigo spins

I'll take every audition til I'm Errol Flynn

And bring it to life off the page

And I'll get up tomorrow still wearing that tie

The one with the skull and the crossbone designs

If I'm asked if I miss her it's easy to lie

In this world that's called more of the same

No I wouldn't feel proud or ashamed

'Cause it isn't as though we get what we want

No matter how hard or long we have fought

And my happiness is a mere afterthought

When I'm with her I keep it in mind

Then she leaves and I've run out of time