Across from the prison and beside the great lake Below the rooftop and above the highway The Spirits pay rent to the basements they haunt And the pages 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 that you've ever hear 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 aint 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
I've seen skeleton mothers and hungry folks Across the street from the kitchen that cooks dinner the most Sometimes you hear whispers by the dark of the moon That we promise too much and gave it too soon Even our coughs said our fevers compete I come from the nation of heat
Blocking borders with smiles our immigrant sons We measure loneliness in miles and misery in tons There's a straw hatted man going away from the shore He said its a shame they dont let you have slaves here anymore I'm the ugliest man that youll ever meet I come from the nation of heat