Jimmy Rose owns a tattoo parlor Three times a day Cooks a spoon of powder I wash the dishes piled in his tub If I wait too long he may never stand up Up
He lies awake on an empty canvas And tilts his brush Watching brilliance drip circles on the floor And I lay his shirt on the bed I fall inside picture frames Breathing in his oil paints He doesn't see me He wanders in His mouth looks thin Like a child who stands there shaking I can feel his anger choke me
Jimmy Rose works from twelve to five To pay off the doctor that he prescribes There's kerosene in the wishing well And I throw a penny still holding on to his hand And I watch him drift, close his eyes I fall inside picture frames Breathing in his oil paints He doesn't see me He wanders in His mouth looks thin Like a child who stands there shaking I can feel his anger choke me
Under the gun Under my clothes He's feeding me I'll never know I'll never know I'll never know He wanders in His mouth looks thin Like a child who stands there shaking I can feel his anger choke me