[Verse 1]
I stopped into a club, I thought I'd see a show
Everyone was there, at least everyone I know
Their knickers in a knot, their hands upon their heart
The best they'd ever seen, the greatest work of art
I wished that it was me

[Chorus]
It's bleaker than you think
I'm running out of ink
Give a guy a break
This is what it takes to drive a man to drink

[Verse 2]
A party at a friend's, Toronto's coolest scene
I thought I'd bring a tape to show them where I'd been
They listened for a while, the lyrics made them smile
They said that it was fine, although it's not their style
I said it wasn't me

[Verse 3]
Once upon a time, they couldn't get enough
Until I made it big and that's when it got rough
Disappointed, no, perhaps a bit surprised
To look them in the face and see it in their eyes
They wish it wasn't me
[Chorus]
It's bleaker than you think
I'm running out of ink
Give a guy a break
This is what it takes to drive a man to drink

[Verse 4]
I used to hold you close, you used to tell me things
You never told a soul until you heard me sing
The details of your life condensed into a song
The neighbor and his wife work out and sing along
And you can't look at me

[Chorus]
It's bleaker than you think
I'm running out of ink
Give a guy a break
This is what it takes to drive a man to drink

[Bridge]
Could song be an alibi?
A lyric replacement for falling in love
But now that the well is dry
I can't understand what I've been singing of

Do you know what it is to love?
To really love?
To really love
Do I?
[Verse 5]
I cycled by your house, I saw you on the lawn
I see you all the time now that you are gone
I tried to call your name but something made me stop
I called you once a day until you called the cops
And told them it was me

[Verse 6]
I filled a plastic bag with everything I wrote
I threw it off a bridge and thought that it would float
The water made it sink, the bag was bleeding ink
I wished that I could swim, I wished that I could drink
I wished that it was me

[Chorus]
It's bleaker than you think
I'm running out of ink
Give a guy a break
This is what it takes to drive a man to drink

[Chorus]
It's bleaker than you think
I'm running out of ink
Give a guy a break
This is what it takes to drive a man to drink