Nation Of Heat Lyrics

Across from the prison and beside the great lake.
Below the rooftops and above the highway
The spirits pay rent on the basements they haunt.
And the painters just draw pictures of the things that they want
I cook my dinner on the blacktop street.
I come from the nation of heat.

Outside the train station there's a bold painted sign.
It says try to be patient don't forget to choose sides.
We got the loudest explosions that you've ever heard.
We got two dollar soldiers and ten dollar words.
If I didn't own boots I wouldn't need feet.
I come from the nation of heat.

So swift and so vicious are the carnival rides.
And the carnival barker will yell your name for a bribe.
We got billboards for love and Japanese cars.
It ain't rare to hear the streetlights call themselves stars.
The more that I learn the more that I cheat.
I come from the nation of heat.

I've seen skeleton mothers and hungry folks.
Across from the street from the kitchens that cook dinner the most.
Sometimes you hear whispers by the dark of the moon.
That we promised too much and gave it too soon.
Even our cops and our thievers compete.
I come from the nation of heat.

Blockin boarders with smiles our immigrant sons.
We measure loneliness in miles and misery in tons.
There's a straw hatted man rowin away from the shore.
Who says it's a shame they don't let you have slaves here anymore.
I'm the ugliest man that you'll ever meet.
I come from the nation of heat.

(Thanks to Jeff for these lyrics)