| I crossed the highways like I did as a child
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| On my way to the movies, I pet cats and smile
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| I walk the back alleys, their John Steinback calm
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| Fake trees, lemon trees, tall shady palms
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| Big empty churches, old antique stores
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| Peeling Victorians that used to house whores
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| I take the back streets back to my digs
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| And look up at skies like I did as a kid
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| My bedroom, I’d look out and dream
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| Of a life close to what I’m living
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| A traveling singer who plays good guitar
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| At outdoor festivals, theatres and bars
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| And I got a nice girl, she’s beautiful too
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| We’re destined to be this, I know to be true
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| Sure there were others, but nothing this nice
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| She set the bait and I took the bite
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| The streets of Martinez, I love them so
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| I walk around thinking the sun’s always low
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| The cats of Martinez, I love them so
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| I feed them at night, they run off and go
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| Four kitty cats, gave them their names
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| Monster Fluff, Half Fluff, No Fluff and Sammy
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| They’re the highlights of my songwriting days
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| They’re happy to see me, we sit and we play
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| These are some words I wrote down last night
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| I’ve beat 'em to death and I can’t get 'em right
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| Songwriting’s lonely, songwriting hurts
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| A relentless itch and bed bug curse
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| Songwriting costs, it doesn’t come free
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| Ask Eliot Smith, ask Richie Lee
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| Ask Mark Linkous, ask Shannon Hoon
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| To get up on stage and sing you a tune
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| This business is troubling, a big nagging cyst
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| You get on this plane and I’ll sit at your desk
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| And I’ll leave at eight and be home by five
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| Call me from Warsaw if you have time
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| Ever wonder why there aren’t more
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| Then ten songs on most albums?
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| Because it’s a chore
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| To write half a dozen, some guys lay back
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| And rest on their laurels
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| Like lazy old hacks
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| Well I wrote this one
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| And I know it ain’t great
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| Will probably sequence it
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| Track number eight
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| And pick up some water at 7−11
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| On my way to a mastering session
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| The streets of Martinez, I love them so
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| I walk out the door and the sun always flow
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| The cats of Martinez, I love them so
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| They help me forget my songwriting woes |