Jens Lekman
An Argument with Myself
[Verse 1]
Having an argument with myself down Elizabeth Street
Bumping into backpackers and struggling with the parameters
And the basic construction of my feet
Kicking beer cans and rubbish along the concrete
Crossing the street and crossing galaxies
Of taxis and back seats and drunk Swedes and half-Greeks
Shut up, no, you shut up
What's the matter? Take a number, buttercup
Every time I hear you say fuck it
I would remind you of the photo in your pocket
How long's it been there? Two years, I bet
Have a sniff, it gonna smell like a cigarette
When was the last time you smoked a cigarette?
And more importantly, who did you smoke it with?
[Verse 2]
Having an argument with myself down Victoria Street
Passing the markets
Now the windows of neon illuminating my path to defeat
Your grinning face scaring a poor parakeet
Your heavy breathing scaring the wind
So rich on summer and so sweet
Fuck you, no, you fuck you
You didn't come here for nothing, did you?
I know that's what you've been saying lately
But let me draw attention to exhibit B
A honeysuckle in a plastic envelope
And put that flower underneath a microscope
See what's written on the petals
Look closer, that's her initials
[Bridge]
And now I'm walking by Bev and Mick's backpacker hostel on Victoria Street
Where it's reggae night tonight
And the backpackers are pouring out like a tidal wave of vomit
I have to sit down on the curbside and count the coins in my pocket
See if I've enough cash to take a taxi home
No
Alright, yes, can we just try to figure this out?
Can we just talk about this please?
Nah, I don't wanna talk to you
Okay, you wanna keep fighting?
Yeah, I wanna keep on fighting
Alright, fair enough
One, two, three, here we go
[Verse 3]
Having an argument with myself down Queensbury Street
The lonely light from the town hall clock tower
The chime of the bells striking
One, two, three
And it took shape in the form of an image
In the form of a living memory
The way her shadow used to walk by your side
In a different time, a different city
Oh, please, no, you oh, please
I wanna see you drop down on your knees
I wanna see your hand waving farewell
Why you're hitting yourself, why you're hitting yourself?
History repeats itself twice, said Marx
First as tragedy, then as farce
But where did I find the source
To make history of a love, a love like ours?
A love like ours