Aimee Mann Album

I can't do it
I can't conceive
you're everything you're trying to make me believe
cause this show is 
too well designed
too well to be held with only me in mind

And how am I different?
How am I different?
How am I different?

I can't do it
so move along
do you really want to wait until I prove you wrong?
And don't tell me--
let me guess
I could change it all around if I would just say yes

But how am I different?
How am I different?
How am I different?

And just one question before I pack--
when you fuck it up later,
do I get my money back?

I can't do it
and as for you--
can you in good conscience even ask me to
Cause what do you care 
about the great divide
as long as you come down
on the winner's side

And how am I different?
How am I different?
How am I different?

Just one question before I pack--
when you fuck it up later,
do I get my money back?

Once upon a time is how it always goes
but I'll make it brief
what was started out with such excitement 
now I'd gladly end end with relief
in what now has become a familiar motif:

That nothing is good enough
for people like you
who have to have someone take the fall
and something to sabotage--
determined to lose it all

Critics at their worst could never criticize
the way that you do
no, there's no one else, I find,
to undermine or dash a hope
quite like you
and you do it so casually, too

Cause nothing is good enough
for people like you
who have to have someone take the fall
and something to sabotage--
determined to lose it all

Ladies and gentlemen--
here's exhibit A
didn't I try again?
And did the effort pay?
Wouldn't a smarter man
simply walk away?

It doesn't really help that you can never say 
what you're looking for
but you'll know it when you hear it,
know it when you see it walk through the door
So you say--
so you've said many times before

But nothing is good enough
for people like you
who have to have someone take the fall
and something to sabotage--
determined to lose it all

They're all still on their honeymoon
just read the dialogue balloon
everyone loves you--
why should they not?
And I'm the only one who knows
that Disneyland's about to close
I don't suppose you'd give it a shot
knowing all that you've got

Are cigarettes and Red Vines
just close your eyes, 'cause, baby--
you never do know
and I'll be on the sidelines,
with my hands tied,
watching the show

Well, it's always fun and games until
it's clear you haven't got the skill
in keeping the gag from going too far
So you're running 'round the parking lot
'til every lightning bug is caught
punching some pinholes
in the lid of a jar
while we wait in the car

With cigarettes and Red Vines
just close your eyes, 'cause, baby--
you never do know
and I'll be on the sidelines,
with my hands tied,
watching the show

And tell me, would it kill you
would it really spoil everything
if you didn't blame yourself
do you know what I mean?

Cigarettes and Red Vines
just close your eyes, 'cause,
baby--
you never do know
and I'll be on the sidelines,
with my hands tied,
watching the show
watching the show

There's no charity in you
and that surprises me
I guess I thought you were a golden idol
cause I called you majesty
on the balustrade
you watched me hunt for tips I was obliged to pick up
from the passing trade

Hey, kids--look at this 
it's the fall of the world's own optimist
I could get back up if you insist
but you'll have to ask politely
cause the eggshells I've been treading
couldn't spare me a beheading 
and I'll know I had it coming 
from a Caesar who was only slumming
Hey, kids--look at this
it's the fall of the world's own optimist

Well, I could have objections
which you could override
but what's the point--we're only flogging the horse 
when the horseman has up and died
once I testified
and swore I'd never leave a stone unturned--
I bet you're really glad that I lied

Hey, kids--look at this 
it's the fall of the world's own optimist
I could get back up if you insist
but you'll have to ask politely
cause the eggshells I've been treading
couldn't spare me a beheading 
and I'll know I had it coming 
from a Caesar who was only slumming
Hey, kids--look at this
it's the fall of the world's own optimist

Hey, kids--look at this 
it's the fall of the world's own optimist
I could get back up if you insist
but you'll have to ask politely
yes, you'll have to ask politely
yes, you'll have to ask

Let's assume you were right
and play the game of charm and strange
and satellite
and when we've all had our fun
deflate the stars
and put away the sun
and so we can call it a day

Cause I'll never prove that my motives were pure
so let's remove any question of cure
cause even though you've made it pretty obscure
baby, it's clear, from here--
you're losing your atmosphere
from here, you're losing it

So let's assume it was true
cause baby can't lift up a hand to swear to you
and what's the use of defense?
the hangers-on are too far gone for evidence
and that one was lost from the first

Cause I'll never prove that my motives were pure
so let's remove any question of cure
cause even though you've made it pretty obscure
baby, it's clear, from here--
you're losing your atmosphere
from here, you're losing it

So have it your way
whatever makes the best resume
whatever you can throw in
wash, rinse and spin til it's
spun away--okay
but I won't be sticking around

Cause I'll never prove that my motives were pure
so let's remove any question of cure
cause even though you've made it pretty obscure
baby, it's clear, from here--
you're losing your atmosphere
from here, you're losing it

Now that I've met you
would you object to
never seeing each other again
cause I can't afford to
climb aboard you
no one's got that much ego to spend

So don't work your stuff
because I've got troubles enough
no, don't pick on me
when one act of kindness could be
deathly
deathly
definitely

Cause I'm just a problem
for you to solve and 
watch dissolve in the heat of your charm
but what will you do when
you run it through and
you can't get me back on the farm

So don't work your stuff
because I've got troubles enough
no, don't pick on me
when one act of kindness could be
deathly
deathly
definitely

You're on your honor
cause I'm a goner
and you haven't even begun
so do me a favor
if I should waver
be my savior
and get out the gun

Just don't work your stuff
because I've got troubles enough
no, don't pick on me
when one act of kindness could be
deathly
deathly
definitely

Finals blew, I barely knew
my graduation speech
and with college out of reach
if I can't find a job it's down to Dad
and Myrtle Beach

So, I'm bailing this town-or
tearing it down-or
probably more like
hanging around,
hanging around

Everyone I know is acting weird 
or way too cool
they hang out by the pool
so I just read a lot and ride my bike
around the school

'Cause I'm bailing this town-or
tearing it down-or
probably more like
hanging around,
hanging around

And all that I need now
is someone with the brains
and the know-how
to tell me what I want...
anyhow

12th of June, a gibbous moon
was this the longest day?
I'll walk down to the bay
and jump off of the dock and watch
the summer waste away

Then, I'm bailing this town-or
tearing it down-or
probably more like
hanging around
hanging around
just hanging around

So tell me what I want

He's a serious Mister
shake his hand and he'll twist your arm
with monopoly money
we'll be buying the funny farm
So I'll do flips, 
and get paid in chips
from a diamond as big as the Ritz--
then I'm calling it quits

Eyes the color of candy
lies to cover the handicap
though your slippers are ruby
you'll be led to the booby trap
And there's no prize,
just a smaller size
so I'm wearing the shoe til it fits--
then I'm calling it quits

Now he's numbering himself among the masterminds
cause he's hit upon the leverage of valentines
lifting dialogue from Judy Garland storylines
where get-tough girls turn into goldmines

But oh, those polaroid babies
taking chances with rabies
happy to tear me to bits--
well, I'm calling it quits
Yes, I'm calling it quits.

At least you know
you were taken by a pro
I know just how you feel
She talked a perfect game
deflecting all the blame
you took the jack
and changed the flat
and got behind the wheel--
now you're
Driving sideways
taken in by the scenery
as you're propelled along
And your companion
will not help you to navigate
for fear she may be wrong

And you will say
that you're making headway
and put it in overdrive
but you're mistaking speed
for getting what you need
and never even noticing 
you never do arrive
cause you're
Driving sideways
if you roll down the window you'll see
you're where you don't belong
And your companion
will not help you to navigate
for fear she may be wrong

And you're powered by
the hopeful lie
that it's just around the bend
and when this, by default
comes screeching to a halt
let's hope that you 
know what to do 
to start it up again

Driving sideways
hitting scan on the radio
so she can sing along
and she'll sit
thinking you're going to handle it
until she's proven wrong
until she's proven wrong
until you prove her wrong

So maybe I wasn't 
that good a friend
but you were one of us
and I will wonder
just like anyone
if there was something
else I could've done

So maybe it's true that
your cry for help 
was oh, so very faint
but still I heard 
and knew something was wrong
just nothing you could put your finger on
and I will wonder 
just like anyone
just like anyone

Oh, Susan, you were clued in
you knew just how this thing would go
a prognosis that was hopeless
from the very first domino
I guess I see it all in hindsight
I tried to keep perspective despite
the flash of the fuse, the smell of cordite

Now I'm in that place again
and I know he can't come in to get me
and someday he will live to regret me
Susan, I can see it now

Oh, Suzie--they get to me
they can really be wearying 
but he threw me rope and buoy
let me use his decoder ring
there must have been some kind of parade
we kissed for a while to see how it played
and pulled the pin on another grenade

Now I'm in that place again
and I know he can't come in to get me
and someday he will live to regret me
Suzie, I can see it now

Oh, Susan, the hope of fusion
is that the halo will reappear
it may be pure illusion
but it's beautiful while it's here
I had some trouble with the goodbye
I checked my Roman candle supply
and watched the vapor trail in the sky

But I'm in that place again
and I know he can't come in to get me
and someday he will live to regret me
Susan, I can see it now

As we were speaking of the devil
you walked right in
wearing hubris like a medal
you revel in
but it's me at whom you'll level 
your javelin

Wasn't that just our dear friend Ron?
Throwing your weight around the sun
happier now that you've become
what you hated

I'm surprised I even thought I
had half a chance
I was just one in a million
of also-rans
who was sure to be your victim
of circumstance

Once you were just our dear friend Ron
selling the soul you swore upon
spreading the word that you've become
what you hated

And if I don't understand...
well, I guess it takes all kinds

I would like to keep this vision
of you intact--
when we'd hang around and listen
to Bacharach
and you loved the world you lived in
and it loved you back

Once you were just our dear friend Ron
now you look out for number one
who would've guessed that you'd become
what you hated

And I guess it takes all kinds

You stay the night at his house
with no ride to work
and I'm the one who tells you
he's another jerk
but you're the one who can succeed
you've only got to prove your need--
and you do
you really do

The sex you're trading up for
what you hope is love
is just another thing that
he'll be careless of
but though there are caveats galore
you've only got to love him more--
and you do
you really do
even when it's all too clear

You write a little note that
you leave on the bed
and spend some time dissecting
every word he said
and if he seemed a little strange
well, baby--anyone can change
and you do
you do 
you really do