Desire and the Urge
From 2004 LP The City

I was sitting at a traffic light on a cold November road,
When a large electric billboard reminded me of what I owed,
To a lifeless man in a minivan, who helped me out of a bind.
I was between a rock and a concrete mote, I'm sure you know the kind.
But as I drove my eighty-five into the frozen rain,
I can honestly say, in every possible way, my travels weren't in vain.

I met a lady hitchhiker as I headed to point B.
I asked where she was going, she said, 'To MIT.'
I said, 'Tell me lady hitchhiker, what are you doing on the run?'
She said, 'My names Stan, I know where I am, thanks for the ride it's been fun.'
I pulled the car onto the shoulder, embarrassed like a child,
As Stan got out he turned to me and said, 'Later, Oscar Wilde.'

I picked up Brian Slagle and we listened to a Dylan dirge.
He said I needed Desire, I said 'I'd get it if I had the urge.'
He said, 'You must be joking.' I replied 'I just might be.'
I asked, 'Well what's the difference?' He said 'Respectability.'
I answered 'Dylan is a god' and told him to be nice.
He looked at me with a clever grin and said 'So is Jesus Christ.'

I then picked up a straggler, and I let him jump inside.
He introduced himself as Elvis, and I mentioned that I thought he'd died.
'Very true,' he stuttered, but he disagreed with parts.
He said 'I may be dead in flesh and head but I'm living on the charts.'
Not sure if the king was honest, or simply mocking me,
I asked, well what is your destination he said 'To the nearest Burger King.'

I was riding in my Tempo on a cold November road,
When a large electric billboard caused my engine to explode.
It didn't seem to phase me; I kept moving on the line.
All that I kept thinking was 'Just tell them that you're fine.'
When I get your phone calls and you want for me to splurge,
Brian's right I should've had desire, but I don't even have the urge.