THEGRIOT

Come closer Come closer Come closer Shhhhhhh Not too close Some stories got teeth Some streets got ghosts I was not born strange They charged me for it Hey-ya, dust got a tongue Hey-ya, drum got a door Hey-ya, the mark got a line But the line got more Old man told me, read the ground Some bones don't sleep when the lights come down Mama said listen when the city smile Hyenas wear manners when the meal's worthwhile I saw a fair turn into a cage Saw the stage turn into a page Saw a woman with a painted grin Sell the ticket, lock us in They say welcome, enjoy the view Just don't ask what the welcome cost you Quiet was silk but the loud was teeth Truth walks barefoot down Delmar Street Who saw it? I saw it Who kept it? I kept it Who paid it? I paid it Alien feel Alien feel I keep the names under my tongue I keep the fire where I'm from I paid the alien fee Just to feel like me Delmar drew a line in dust Manchester air caught in us I keep the joke I keep the moon I bring the old into the room Alien feel Alien feel I paid I paid Just to feel like me Alien feel Alien feel I came from far Far in me Hobo heart, crown sewn in the coat Open hand still holding smoke Behind closed eyes, that serpent speaks Memory bliss with a break in the beat Run, baby, run Run! Past the fortune flame Some roads remember what we won't name World got fat when the ticket sold But the tent got hungry and the blood ran old I'm not the clown I'm not the king I'm not the saint I'm not the sin I'm what remains when the sun got through A griot with an alien view Who saw it? I saw it Who kept it? I kept it Who paid it? I paid it Alien feel Alien feel I keep the names under my tongue I keep the fire where I'm from I paid the alien fee Just to feel like me Delmar drew a line in dust Manchester air caught in us I keep the joke I keep the moon I bring the old into the room Alien feel Alien feel I paid I paid Just to feel like me Alien feel Alien feel I bring the old into the room Hey-ya, dust got a tongue Hey-ya, drum got a door Before the carnival opens Somebody paid the fee