Okkervil River
Blanket and Crib
[Verse 1]
Safe, safe — enjoy your time feeling so safe
And treasure that smile on your face, okay?
‘Cause time will see that it’s replaced in a while
So go on & smile, smile, handshakes all around, that’s your style
And no one would call it denial
For you’re not even sure what’s in store, though it’s more
[Chorus 1]
Than you’ll be able to take standing up straight
And it won’t be okay
And you won’t be somebody who it’s just happening to
It’s a trap that you, and only you
[Verse 2]
Have laid, laid with a towel up over your face
In your armchair, just lying in wait
Waiting forces were gathering outside your door
They sharpened their knives, knives and smiled with no smiles in their eyes
A little bit larger in size
And a little bit hungrier for that tiny prize
[Chorus 2]
And my mother she said “Son, remember this, no matter what someone did
That they once were just a kid
At breast and in bib, in blanket and crib
So just reach inside yourself and find that part that still needs help
Find that part in someone else and you’ll do good”
So I thought that I would, Mother
[Verse 3]
So hey, hey — I love you, it goes without saying
I would give you the world on a tray
Though they’re already tracing a line across your throat
Far too late in the game you’ll find that you have been betrayed
Propped up and pushed into your place
I could claim that it all would go great, but the reason I came
Is to say that it won’t
You should know that it won’t
You should know that it won’t
You should know that it won’t
And so, Phillip, let go