Perfect Way To Die

Album: Alicia (2020)
Play Video
  • Simple walk to the corner store
    Mama never thought she would be gettin' a call from the coroner
    Said her son's been gunned down, been gunned down
    "Can you come now?"

    Tears in her eyes, "can you calm down?
    Please, ma'am, can you calm down?"

    But it rained fire in the city that day, they say
    A river of blood in the streets
    No love in the streets
    And then came silence in the city that day, they say
    Just another one gone
    And they tell her, move on

    And she's stuck there, singing
    "Baby, don't you close your eyes
    'Cause this could be our final time
    And you know I'm horrible at saying goodbye
    And I think of all you could have done
    At least you'll stay forever young
    I guess you picked the perfect way to die
    Oh, I guess you picked the perfect way to die"

    New job, new city, new her
    Bright-eyed, you would have been proud if you knew her
    Flashing lights in the mirror, "pull over, pull over"
    A couple nights in detention and it's over, a whole life's over

    They came marching in the city that day, they say
    Carryin' signs in the streets
    Cryin' eyes in the streets
    But they heard nothing from the city that day, they say
    Just another one gone
    And the city moved on

    We're stuck here singing
    "Baby, don't you close your eyes
    'Cause this could be our final time
    And you know I'm horrible at saying goodbye
    I'll think of all you coulda done
    At least you'll stay forever young
    I guess you picked the perfect way to die
    Oh, I guess you picked the perfect way to die"

    Another dream lost
    Another king and queen lost
    Another broken promise they refuse to make right
    Oh, another night to live in fear
    Oh, another night that you're not here
    Another reason to get out there and fight

    But I say, "baby, don't you close your eyes
    'Cause this could be our final time

    And you know I'm horrible at saying goodbye
    But I'll think of all you coulda done
    At least you'll stay forever young
    I guess you picked the perfect way to die
    Oh, I guess you picked the perfect way Writer/s: Alicia Augello-Cook, Coleridge Gardner Tillman
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Randy Newman

Randy NewmanSongwriting Legends

Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular Music

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular MusicSong Writing

Starting in Virginia City, Nevada and rippling out to the Haight-Ashbury, LSD reshaped popular music.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.