The Mountain Goats
Clean Slate
[Verse 1]
One from East St. Louis with a scar beneath his eye
Left the kitchen spotless on the day he said goodbye
Breakaway republic dude, supremely filthy mouth
Copiah, Mississippi; points much further south

[Chorus]
It's never light outside yet
When they climb into the van
Remember at your peril
Forget the ones you can

[Verse 2]
Leave home feeling empty, change planes in Taipei
Stay awake the whole timе, end up several worlds away
Thе house was almost full that day, they made a space for you
This world is sad and broken, gotta fix a crack or two

[Chorus]
Rest until you're rested
Climb back onto the caravan
Remember at your peril
Forget the ones you can

[Bridge]
And then just when you think you've learned how to forget
You learn it's just the ones who haven't risen to the surface yet
[Verse 3]
Absence after absence, keep the place secure
This will be the last time that I do this, I'm pretty sure
No one lasts for long in this profession, so they say
Maybe see you again someday

[Chorus]
Every endpoint fixed forever
On the day its arc began
Remember at your peril
Forget the ones you can

[Refrain]
Forget the ones you can