The Decemberists - On the Bus Mall Lyrics

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In matching blue raincoats, 
our shoes were our show boats 
we kicked around. 
From stairway to station 
we made a sensation 
with the get-about crowd.
And oh, what a bargain, 
we’re two easy targets 
for the old men at the off-tracks, 
who’ve paid in palaver 
and crumpled old dollars, 
which we squirreled away 
in our rat trap hotel by the freeway. 
And we slept in Sundays. 

Your parents were anxious, 
your cool was contagious 
at the old school. 
You left without leaving 
a note for your grieving 
sweet mother, while 
your brother was so cruel. 
And here in the alleys 
your spirits were rallied 
as you learned quick to make a fast buck. 
In bathrooms and barrooms, 
on dumpsters and heirlooms, 
we bit our tongues. 
Sucked our lips into our lungs 
'til we were falling. 
Such was our calling. 

And here in our hovel we fuse like a family, 
but I will not mourn for you. 
So take off your makeup 
and pocket your pills away. 
We’re kings among runaways 
on the bus mall. 
We’re down 
on the bus mall. 

Among all the urchins and old Chinese merchants 
stood the old town, 
we reigned at the pool hall 
with one iron cue ball 
and we never let the bastards get us down. 
And we laughed off the quick tricks-- 
the old men with limp dicks-- 
on the colonnades of the waterfront park. 
As 4 in the morning came on, cold and boring, 
we huddled close 
in the bus stop enclosure enfolding. 
Our hands tightly holding. 

But here in our hovel we fuse like a family, 
but I will not mourn for you. 
So take off your makeup 
and pocket your pills away. 
We’re kings among runaways 
on the bus mall. 
We’re down 
on the bus mall. 
We’re down 
on the bus mall. 
Down on the bus mall. 
oh ooh oh

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lyrics submitted by Kerry on 25-02-2005
lyrics corrected by madeleine on 31-03-2005