Nation of Heat

Across from the prison and beside the great lake
 Below the rooftops and above the highway
 The spirits pay rent on the basements they haunt
 And the pages just draw pictures of the things that they want
 I cook my dinner on the black top street
 I come from the nation of heat
 Outside the train station there's a bold painted sign
 It says try to be patient, don't forget to choose sides
 We got the loudest explosions you've ever heard
 We've got two dollar soldiers and ten dollar words
 If I didn't own boots I wouldn't need feet
 I come from the nation of heat
 So swift and so vicious are the carnival rides
 And the carnival barker will yell your name for a bribe
 We got billboards for love and Japanese cars
 It ain't rare to hear the street lights call themselves stars
 The more that I learn the more that I cheat
 I come from the nation of heat
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 I've seen skeleton mothers and hungry folks
 Across the street from the kitchens that cook dinner the most
 Sometimes you hear whispers by the dark of the moon
 That we promised too much and gave it too soon
 Even our coughs and our fevers compete
 I come from the nation of heat
 Blocking borders with smiles are immigrant sons
 We measure loneliness in miles and misery in tons
 There's a straw-hatted man rowing away from the shore
 Who says it's a shame they don't let you have slaves here anymore
 I'm the ugliest man that you'll ever meet
 I come from the nation of heat