Lyrics Calgary - Mark Kozelek

Calgary

I arrived in Calgary today at maybe 6 PM
I walked the streets, and I walked, and I walked, and I couldn’t find a single
thing to take a photo of
Until I saw a bird that looked like a cross between a robin and a blue jay
With a long, sleek, shoehorn-shaped blue-black tail
I tried to get close enough to take a photo but he trotted away quickly
He was a big bird, but light as a quail on his feet
He wasn’t gonna try to fly away on account of me
But fuck if he was gonna let me invade his personal space
I have no idea what kind of bird he was and I’m not gonna try to Google him
Because I can tell he’s not the type who wants to be Googled
He’s here to enjoy the moment, not the social media type
He’s not looking for validation, he minds his own business
That bird was the only sign of animal life I saw today
Before dinner, I asked the woman at the front desk for restaurant advice
And she recommended a bar a block away that had snacks
I said, «Thanks, but I’m not looking for a bar, I’m looking for a restaurant»
She then recommended another bar that also happened to have food
Does Canada assume that everybody in the entire world prioritizes alcohol over
food?
I don’t mean this in a mean way, I observe for a living
I’m just curious is all, I’m not being judgemental
Then she told me about a dim sum place nearby called Two Penny
I don’t know what was going on in that dim sum place but the two waitresses
there were really nice to me
Like I was Leonardo DiCaprio or something
One recommended a variety of dishes and I asked for iced tea
She said, «Well, you’re American, so I should let you know that the iced tea
here is sweetened»
I said, «Aw man, I’m 52, I’ll end up with a bad headache if I drink sweetened
tea
I might even have a heart attack
I’ll have some sparkling water, thanks»
The waitresses were asking how long I was gonna be in town
Then recommended various places where I could go get bottled water and fruits
and vegetables for my two-night stay
One said, «Go to this place on that street»
The other said, «No, try that place on this street»
I said, «This is nice of both of you, but I’m not from here, so I don’t know
the streets
Please just tell me one place»
They told me about a place that had the word «sun» in it
And I walked in that direction but I never found it
But I did find a 7/11 and I got bottled water and oranges
I couldn’t sleep when I went back there at about 11 PM
I got a hot dog with no bread because I’m told I gotta cut back on carbs
I used to look like Mark Kozelek, now I look like one of those from Lost Lovers
Don’t laugh, it could happen to you
On my way back, I was having a cigarette outside the hotel on an empty lifeless
street
And this homeless guy came up to me slowly
His knees were all fucked up, mumbling
Tossing some white tube thing from one of his hands to the other
He said something about, «The British press won’t talk to me»
I said, «That's funny, we have something in common
They won’t talk to me either»
He kept mumbling under his breath, fidgeting.
he couldn’t stand still
I couldn’t understand him, but I said, «What's wrong?»