Smiler
(based on Lowell, MA performance, July 11, 2009)
every time i open my mouth
i take off my clothes
and i'm raw and frostbitten
from being exposed
i've got red scabby hands
and purple scabby feet
and you can smell me coming
from halfway down the street
ooh ooooho
and i remember that old motel had quite the smell
where i'd go to use the phone
between the donut shop and the pizza parlor
where i learned how to live alone
sweet sixteen smiling
my way out of any jam
learning the ways of the world, oh my
learning the ways of man
ooh ooooho
and i didn't really want a baby
and i guess that i had a choice
but i just let it grow inside me
its persistent little voice
and i guess i got her off and running
and then run off is what she did
and that's part of what i think about
when i think about that kid
ooh ooooho
now there's nothing left to wish upon
except the passing cars
the cacophony of city lights
is drowning out the stars
this park bench is a lifeboat
and the rest a big dark sea
and i'm just gonna lie here
until something comes and finds me
ooh ooooho
and i've got this tired old face
still grinning most of the time
just 'cause it don't have a better way
to express what's on its mind
and i've got this running monologue
entertaining in its outrage
and i've got this air of an animal
been living in a cage
ooh ooooho
every time i open my mouth
i take off my clothes
and i'm raw and frostbitten
from being exposed
i've got red scabby hands
and purple scabby feet
go ahead, smell me coming
from halfway down the street
ooh ooooho
Smiler Lyrics performed by Ani DiFranco are property and copyright of the authors, artists and labels. You should note that Smiler Lyrics performed by Ani DiFranco is only provided for educational purposes only and if you like the song you should buy the CD