Elliott Smith

New Monkey

here come the sidewalk boss again
telling me how i can't cave in
but i'm a study in black
need a pat on the back
i looked up and smile
a picture of dissatisfaction
and he can only see as a junky
though i might be straight as an arrow
he's busy shaking hands with my monkey
busy shaking hands with my monkey
i go in my car straight to the bar
where my sweety pours the beer
for the millions of fans
ignoring the bands
he's in my ear
wants me to live in denial
says you gotta settle for something
though it might not be really living
anything is better than nothing (x2)
no actor action man gonna move in and take my place
i'll be pumping out the product
just a total waste
look at your hands unoccupied
look at the lengths you'll go to hide
your under the veil
pretending to bail
you gotta whole
lot of empty time left to go
now you've gotta fill it with something
i know what you could do - don't you know
anything is better than nothing
no actor action man gonna move in and take my place
i'll be pumping out the product
just a total waste
i'm here with my cup, afraid to look up
this is how i spend my time
lazing around
head hanging down
stuck inside my imagination
busy making something from nothing
pictures of hope and depression
anything is better than nothing (x4)