Quiet Desperation

You're sitting on a milk mornin' noon and night

Fantisizin' the American dream

You're lookin' pretty good and you've got yourself convinced

That the nightmare isn't as bad as it seems

You try your best to hide yourself beneath your turned up collar

And a plastic bag is all you've got to show

And your books inside your shopping cart

Is probably the best education you're ever gonna know (Hmm)

The guy in the Mercedes is just hollered with the dollar

Better grab it 'cause the signal's turnin' green

And while you're at it put the jug behind the picket fence

'Cause the cop that's drivin' by sho'looking mean

Institution, contribution, restitution, destitution

Doesn't mean a thing to you now

You're the freeway feature

For your audience are driving by

So maybe you should stand and take a bow

You're living in desperation

And you never have felt complete

You live in anticipation

Of another day on the street, sing with me

[Scatting by Scatman John]

You're sitting in the same spot

You want to go home

But there ain't no home but home on the range

You've forgotten what you look like and it looks like you've forgotten

That the look inside your eye is very strange

Ain't nothing left to hide

You're stripped of all your pride and all you feel inside

Is a hole a mile wide

You're the freedom desperado

And the perfect living model

Of a land that hasn't any good excuse

You're living in desperation

And you never have felt complete

You live in anticipation

Of another day on the street, sing with me

[Scatting by Scatman John]

Sittin' on your milkcrate, blanket wrapped around you

I see you sitting day after day

I really like to talk but I know if I approached you

You'd probably get up and walk away

You're wishin' that your home of the American dream

Wasn't only smoke and exhaust

I love you desperado and all I gotta say

You let me know how much I really lost

You're living in desperation

And you never have felt complete

You live in anticipation

Of another day on the street, sing with me

[Scatting by Scatman John]

You're living in desperation

And you never have felt complete

You live in anticipation

Of another day on the street, sing with me

[Scatting by Scatman John]