KASEY ANDERSON’S DREAM

words by Kasey Anderson, music by Kasey Anderson and Andrew McKeag

i drank every last drop from vanity’s cup
and now i’m stranded in the city that never wakes up
how long i been here is anybody’s guess
every day i see the same woman in a different dress
she ain’t much to look at but she sure can sing
but with all this noise i can’t hear a thing
fat man on a corner, people gathered around
screaming, “ashes, ashes, we all fall down”

the st. james hotel has 29 floors
i get the feeling, rosie, you’ve been here before
i got a hand full of feathers and a pocket full of dimes
i got nothing to lose, i got nothing but time
the chambermaid said, “you’ve got a generous smile”
i said, “if you like it so much, why don’t you stay a while?”
she said, “where i come from, you’re either honest or proud”
ashes, ashes, we all fall down

i’m looking out the window at a burning field
wind come in, sharp and cold as steel
but my heart is free, i got the radio on
sharon jones singin, “my good man’s gone”
i’m leaving in the morning for the land of nod
i’m thinking about what rosie said, “man made god”
i said, “what makes you so sure,” she said, “look around”
ashes, ashes, we all fall down

i’m going down to the valley of dead men’s dreams
i’m gonna drink the cool, black water from the fountain of need
i’m gonna dance at the wedding of the general’s son
most people ain’t sorry for nothing they done
you want a brave new world? that can be arranged
the ship’s split and sinking but the captain’s changed
the truth is not kind, death is not proud
ashes, ashes, we all fall down