Crooked on the Nail

1. the doctor took a photo, she wore a hospital gown
he explained that her brain was trying to take her down
they quieted the cancer, they tightened her screws
i took a tongue depressor, i took the abuse

someone should warn the surgeon he’s not alone
her mind’s a clenched fist with a sharp knife of its own
it’s hard to feel light in a waiting room of whispers
i sleep heavy every night. something is wrong with this picture

chorus
i stare at the negative, go to the darkest places
who are these strangers, i can’t make out their faces
now as far as i can see, now as far as i can tell
my life’s an empty frame, shaking crooked on a nail

2. the police took a photo just outside of town
of his truck and his luck and his wife and his life turned upside down
emergency rooms now a stain in my head
i lept for the living there, i wept for the dead

who could have warned the wind, that the heavens would steal the air
what god would pound this gavel, leave a family in despair
it’s hard to hear the love in self-serving scripture 
i sleep heavy every night. something is wrong with this picture.


chorus