The politics of passing out

It was the politics of passing out,
and other things I thought about.
Wondering if, and despairing of when,
you and I might meet again.

I made up lines, I saved up quotes,
I swam through schemes, I burned with hope,
waiting for the moment when
any of this might matter again.

We must burn, but burn joyfully, and give off light.
Unalloyed joy, at least for tonight.

With dreams so strange and insistent,
it's no wonder I go around kicking things
While I was drunk, I dreamt I could fly.
I never dreamt things would go bad between you and I.

We burned joyfully and gave off light.
Unalloyed joy, at least for tonight.

So take it on the chin, spit teeth, shut up, and sing.
Like the veins in my arms, like the tattoos on your skin.
Night upon night, blank cassettes and cigarettes.
Like lilacs off the tongue, this was supposed to be fun.

It was the politics of hanging out
that made me feel so dumb about
Going to shows, or even answering the phone.
I ended up hanging out all alone

and burning joyfully, and giving off light.
Unalloyed joy, at least for tonight.

So take it on the chin, spit teeth, shut up, and sing.
Like the veins in my arms, like the tattoos on your skin.
Night upon night, blank cassettes and cigarettes.
Like lilacs off the tongue, this was supposed to be fun.

That night, it was no sin, blank looks and cigarettes,
like the scars on my arms, like the heat beneath your skin,
fight upon fight, busted lips and cigarettes,
like curses off the tongue, we're not supposed to be so dumb.
I wish we weren't so dumb.

We must burn, but burn joyfully, and give off light.
Unalloyed joy, at least for tonight.
Or maybe just tonight.