The Hold Steady
"Lord, I'm Discouraged"

lord, i'm discouraged
the circles have sucked in her eyes
lord, i'm discouraged
her new friends have shadowed her life
lord, i'm discouraged
she ain't come out dancing for some time
and i'm trying to light candles
but they burn down to nothing
and she keeps coming up with
excuses and half-truths and fortified wine
excuses and half-truths and fortified wine
excuses and half-truths and fortified wine
there's a house on the south side
where she stays in for days at a time

and now i know i'm no angel
but i ain't been bad that way
can't you hear her?
she's that sweet missing songbird
when the choir sings on sundays
and i'm almost busted
but i bought back the jewelry she sold
and i've clung to your altar
and then there's just nothing
she keeps insisting
the sutures and bruises are none of my business
she said that she's sick
but she won't get specific
the sutures and bruises are none of my business
there's a guy from the north side
who comes down and visits
and his visits, they only take five or six minutes

lord, i'm sorry to question your wisdom
but my faith has been wavering
won't you show me a sign
and let me know that you're listening?

excuses and half-truths and fortified wine
excuses and half-truths and fortified wine
excuses and half-truths and fortified wine
i don't know for sure if she's even alive
so i mostly just pray she don't die