One Too Many Blues

There's a hammer in my head
There’s a shrapnel in my eyes
And the street's so goddamn crowded
I can't even ask for why
And the sidewalks are all melting
I can't even find my feet
One too many working ladies
One too many shady streets

Now my face turns even whiter
Now my eyes seem very blue
And there ain't no kind of shelter
And there ain't no decent room
And there are no broken evenings
As she offers one more kiss
One too many working ladies
One too many shady streets

And the job gets pretty dreary
Though the drags are well exposed
And there ain't no good songwriters
Till they say their final word
So retire to your duty
And retire to your dreams
One too many working ladies
One too many shady streets

So the lamplight keeps a-swirling
And the city's all aflame
There’s a drunkard in my clinic
And the drunkard plays a game
He collects them broken moments
He keeps sweeping up the knives
One too many working ladies
One too many alibis

Now my face turns even bluer
Now my eyes are very white
And there ain't no room for anger
As the radio keeps its jive
Well concealed behind the counter
Of another one-way store
One too many working ladies
One too many nights to go

And the pills are even cheaper
And the future's out of hand
And there ain't no decent poet
We’re all spitting out regret
Softly broken by the twilight
Put together by the wind
One too many working ladies
One too many shady streets

Till tomorrow, god may bless you
From his tower in the skies
May his angels all supply you
Gently sleeping reasons why
And retire to your beauty
Or retire to your dreams
One too many working ladies
One too many shady streets