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Shoebox Bird

I came home from work and I saw you in the kitchen
trying to cut that tiny bagel with a great big knife
while you were dancing around to Hugh Masekela
and I knew it was time for me to save your life
yes I knew that I'd been put there to save your life
Cause I'm just trying to save yourself from yourself
I'm here to keep you from you
and protect you from all the damage
you might do to yourself now baby
you just don't know how much damage you can do
but I do, I do, oh yes I do

I remember you were driving me down a dark country road in the rain
the deer were scurrying back and fourth in front of the headlights
and you were leaning over yelling something in my ear
about how I was always trying to run your life
I couldn't hear you
I had my knees up to my chest
I was scribbling out my last will and testament on the back of a triple-Atravel guide
I'm sorry if I startled you
when I pulled up on the emergency brake and we skidded over an embankment
and landed in a ditch but baby
I'm just trying to save yourself from yourself
I'm here to keep you from you
and protect you from all the damage
you might inflict upon yourself now baby
you just don't know how much damage you can do
but I do, I do, oh yes I do

If not for me
who'd clean out the lint filter in the dryer
after you do the wash you know it might catch fire
if not for me
who'd warn you not to use the telephone in the rain
you know you might get a shock
if not for me
who'd move you back from the MTV
don't go out without the sun-block baby
if not for me, if not for me, if not for me-ee-e-ee-e-ee

cause I have selflessly sacrificed myself I have
selflessly sacrificed myself I have
selflessly sacrificed myself I have
selfishly sacrificed myself

When I was a little boy I used to pick up
wounded twisted birds that I'd find on the ground outside
and I'd take them home in a little shoebox with a little bit of grass
and I'd nurture them and I'd care for them
till they died
one time my mother came in
and picked up that disease-infested animal
and threw it in the toilet and made me take a bath
and she was scrubbing my head she was scrubbing my head
and I was screaming and she was scubbing my head and saying baby
I'm just trying to save yourself from yourself
I'm here to keep you from you
and protect you from all the damage
you might do to yourself now baby
you just don't know how much damage you can do
but I do, I do, oh yes I do