Track Number 8

Lyrics for Track Number 8

I cross the highways like I did as a child On my way to the movies I pet cats and smiled I walked the back alleys, their John Steinbeck calm Fig trees, lemon trees, tall shady palms Big empty churches, old antique stores Peeling Victorians, they used to house whores I take the back streets back to my digs And look up at skies as I did as a kid My bedroom window I'd look out and dream Of a life close to what I'm living A traveling singer who plays good guitar At outdoor festivals, theaters and bars And I got a nice girl, she's beautiful too Were destined to be this I know to be true Sure there were others but nothing this nice She set the bait and I took the bite The streets of Martinez, I love them so I walk around thinking the sun always glows The cats of Martinez I love them so I feed them at night they run off and go Four kitty cats, gave them their names Monster Fluff, Half Fluff, No Fluff and Samhain They're the highlights of my song writing days They're happy to see me we sit and we play These are some words I wrote down last night I've beat 'em to death and I can't get 'em right Song writing's lonely, song writing hurts A relentless itching, a bed bug curse Songwriting costs it doesn't come free Ask Elliot Smith, ask Richie Lee Ask Mark Linkous, ask Shannon Hoon To get up on stage and sing you a tune This business is troubling, a big nagging cyst You get on this plane; I'll sit at your desk And I'll leave at 8 and be home by 5 Call me from Warsaw if you have time Ever wonder why there aren't more Than ten songs on most albums? 'Cause it's a chore To write half a dozen some guys laid back And rest on their laurels like lazy old hacks Well I wrote this one and I know it ain't great We'll probably sequence it track number eight And pick up some water at 7-Eleven On my way to the mastering session The streets of Martinez I love them so I walk out the door and the sun always glows The cats of Martinez I love them so They help me forget my songwriting woes