Mosquitos
Album - 1989 - Debaser id 38151

Tell not a word that you heard it here
But there's a big truck waitin' tonight at the pier
Comin' in on an east-bound boat
Now, don't be late for delivery––here, put this in your coat
It's a strange weight from an exotic locale
Don't worry about the cops, 'cause they're in on it, pal
Just pick it up no later than tonight at three o'clock
And bring it to the warehouse––here, put this in your sock

No one left to save you
Nobody will return
You run so fast, you catch on fire
You've just gotta burn
Yeah––


Chorus:
Goin' southbound
Follow that sound
Long line of cars
Just a-movin' out of town
You've got this job
But you don't know how
And everybody does
What nobody will allow



Full moon shines like a big cue ball
Someone fishin' on the pier, might as well stall
Repaint the car, change your license plate
How ya spell relief? Must be somethin' that you ate


All this is a secret
As common as that dirt
We'll rely on your expert eye
Here, put this in your shirt
Yeah––


Chorus repeat x2


And we'll all be waiting so long
Wait so long
We'll all be waiting so long
Wait so long, wait so long


Now if you get caught, don't tell 'em about me
The last one who did, well, we tied him to a tree
Out in the high desert, by an ant hill
Haven't been back there since––guess he's swingin' there still


All this is a secret
As common as that dirt
We'll rely on your expert eye
Here, put this in your shirt
Yeah––yeah! yeah! yeah!


Chorus repeat x2


Goin' southbound...
We're goin' southbound...
We're goin' southbound...
We're goin' southbound...

"How you doin', Bert?" "Well, not so good, Charlie,
My back's gone out and I got my finger cut gnarly.
The job's the same, and so's the boss.
He's still a big ass, and my wallet got lost.
My wife's sick in bed, she says she'll never get well.
And all these kids today have gone to hell.
And all that government paperwork caught up with me––
Had to hire a beancounter for an outrageous fee.
And I don't know if the chicken or the egg is to blame
But all things considered, I guess I can't complain."

"Cheer up," Charlie said, "things could be worse."
"Well, yeah, I know, but did I tell ya that
My landlord's a cop? My neighbor's insane?
But all things considered, I guess I can't complain."


Chorus:
Out on the water
Where the sailing men all go
The water's high,
While all the fish swim low
Out on the water
Where the sailing men all go
The water's high,
While all the fish swim low



"You know what, Bert?" Charlie said, "You've got the wrong attitude.
Sometimes life's a big game, and the paths, you can choose.
Things may go wrong, but you've gotta stand tall."
"Well, I know," Bert said, "But well, that ain't all.
My hair's fallin' out. The roof leaks when it rains.
But all things considered, I guess I can't complain."


Chorus repeat


"You know what, Bert?" Charlie said, "You're a real loser.
So I'll see you next week––if you live 'til then."
As Bert walked out to the sidewalk, ten floors up
Two men lost control of a hoist at just the right time
And a big Steinway grand flattened Bert like a dime.
And as a crowd gathered 'round and asked, what was his name?
And could it be the chicken, or the egg to blame?
Well, the only thing heard was that he couldn't complain.


So if you're a loser in life, and your gun's outta ammo,
Just remember the story of Bert and the piano.
'Cause if you can't string the bow––and you're clean outta rosin1
Someone may have planned for a music lesson.
Keep your eyes to the sky; it could be a brand name
And remember, all things considered, you really can't complain.

I can feel the life runnin' out of me
Workin' here at Pete's
Two years ago it was just the thing
Workin' cars part time every week
I met 'em both at a drag race
They both dressed pretty snappy that day
Pete's wife Peg, she put the make on me
While Pete just looked the other way

Now no one can say what your future may hold
Or what your life will have in store
We went home that night, Pete passed out on the couch
And then Peg pulled me down on the floor
Well, I know now she knew what she was doing
Forbidden fruit, but what the hell, I bit
That's all it took––my fate was sealed
That night the flame was lit


Chorus:
Every night when the lights go out
Pete drinks his booze and then he passes out
I hear a footstep outside my door
And then I remember what I started working here for
Peg and Pete and me
One and one and one make three
Peg and Pete and me
One and one and one make three
Now tell me what would you do
If you were in my shoes?



Tonight, Peg, we gotta stop this thing
I don't know if we can
Peg said, Don't worry, now, Pete's asleep
And I've got a certain plan
You know everything is in my name, she said
And anyway I love you so very much
He'll never feel a thing––just like he never woke up
And after that it'll just be us


Chorus repeat


The next morning, when I woke up
Peg was gone, the detective said
Son, you gotta come downtown with me
'Cause we know you killed Pete dead
The jury found me guilty
And sent me up for ninety-nine to life
And if there's any advice I can give from this cell
Never trust a rich dead man's wife


Chorus:
Peg and Pete and me
Peg and Pete and me
Peg and Pete and me
Peg and Pete and me

Calling out to Carol
She could really twist the screws
What'cha doin' Monday
And are you back on the booze?
Now, I've been dooin' some thinkin'
About Colorado Springs
A dirty denim jacket
And a seven-dollar ring

Well, I've been keepin' busy
I've got lots of pots boiling on the stove
Who's that in the background
I'm sorry that I asked––I guess I should have known

Chorus:
Callin' out to Carol on the telephone call
Message on a wire comin' through a wall
Talk about old times but not too long ago
Carol was the girl that everybody got to know

When'd you change your number? Hey, Carol!
It's different than you had
Have you got protection?
I know some police are bad
But that's not why I called you up, now
You know I quit that scene
I told ya 'bout your pictures
I guess I'll buy that magazine

And I still remember
All those days we spent alone
You went one way while I went the other
Sometimes, I guess, that's the way things go

Chorus:
Callin' out to Carol on a telephone call
Message on a wire comin' through a wall
Talk about old times but not too long ago
Carol was the girl that everybody got to know
Callin' out to Carol gets a busy tone
Sees a lot of people but she lives alone
Pick up the reciever––love will come and go
But Carol was the girl that everybody got to know

When they called me in the morning
And told me that she'd gone
I didn't want to hear it
So I just hung up the phone

Chorus:
Callin' out––Callin' out to Carol
Callin' out––Callin' out to Carol
Callin' out––Callin' out to Carol
Callin' out to Carol
Callin' out to Carol on a telephone call
Message on a wire comin' through a wall
Is this line in service––operator says no
But Carol was a girl that everybody got to know