lifeblood: songs: lyrics: findlay, ohio 1968

findlay ohio 1968
poking hot tar bubbles with a stick on the driveway
grammy's a republican
nixon is her man
in two years time ohio will be up in flames

i like the smell of the trash and leaves
burning in the cans
roger is the boy next door
he's a wanderer
he starts with his hands

cathy's the outcast
we're nice but we steer clear
and everyone says watch out for her mom
the word is she's crazy
she's always drinking beer
cathy's dad never came back from vietnam

i like the smell of the trash and leaves
burning in the cans
roger is the boy next door
he's a wanderer
he starts by holding my hands

scared but curious
raised up right but furious
what happens to a fence scaling girl
and if you catch your pants on top
first you're stuck
then you'll drop
you'll look back
first you feel the thrill
and then

i wasn't into poetry
but sexton changed all that
"the awful rowing" past in tow and sinking slowly
listless and listing
the things i leave behind
so unkind the pull of history

we drove in a station wagon
wheels soft slapping
trenton on the turnpike
the smell of the refineries
rushes back to me
and how i loved the lights

scared but curious
raised up right but furious
what happens to a fence scaling girl
and if you catch your pants on top
first you'll stick
then you'll drop
and you'll look back
first you'll feel the thrill

words and music by emily saliers