eels--Beautiful Freak

NOVOCAINE FOR THE SOUL

life is hard
and so am i
you better give me something
so i don't die
novocaine for the soul
before i sputter out
life is white
and i am black
jesus and his lawyer
are coming back
oh my darling, will you be here
before i sputter out
guess who's living here
with the great undead
this paint-by-numbers life
is fucking with my head
once again
life is good
and i feel great
cos mother says i was
a great mistake
novocaine for the soul
you'd better give me something
to fill a hole
novocaine for the soul
before i sputter out
before i sputter out
before i sputter out


SUSAN'S HOUSE

going over to susan's house
walking south down baxter street
nothing hiding behind this picket fence
there's a crazy old woman smashing bottles on the sidewalk where her house burnt down two years ago
people say that back then, she really wasn't that crazy
going over to susan's house
going over to susan's house
she's gonna make it right
down by the doughnut prince a fifteen year old boy lies on the sidewalk with a bullet in his forehead
in a final act of indignity, the paramedics take off all his clothes
for the whole world to see while they put him in the bag
meanwhile, an old couple argues inside the queen bee
the sick fluorescent light shimmering on their skin
going over to susan's house
going over to susan's house 
i can't be alone tonight
take a left down echo park, a kid asks do i want some crack? 
teevee sets are spewing "baywatch" thru the windows into black
here comes a girl who can't be more than seventeen
she sucks on a red popsicle while she pushes a baby girl in a pink carriage
and i'm thinking, "that must be her sister. that must be her sister. right?" 
they go into the seven-eleven
and i keep walking
and i keep walking
going over to susan's house


RAGS TO RAGS

there's a spider crawling on the bathroom mirror 
right on top of my right eye
and i can't stop staring back
how did i get this way? 
take a big look at a living lie
rags to rags and rust to rust
how do you stand when you've been crushed? 
so rags to riches was a bust
sometimes i dream about what it's like back home
the railroad tracks and the pussywillow
but i had to leave it
now i go back whenever my tired head hits the pillow
rags to rags and rust to rust
how do you stand when you've been crushed? 
so rags to riches was a bust
busted once again
well i'll show them one day
that i can buy and sell the world.. 
and one day i'll come thru--my american dream
but it won't mean a fucking thing
rags to rags and rust to rust
how do you stand when you've been crushed? 
so rags to rags and rust to rust
don't let me go
rags to rags and rust to rust
don't let me go
rags to rags and rust to rust.... 


BEAUTIFUL FREAK

you're such a beautiful freak
i wish there were more just like you
you're not like all of the others
and that is why i love you
beautiful freak, beautiful freak
that is why i love you
beautiful freak, beautiful freak
some people think you have a problem
but that problem lies only with them
just cos you are not like the others
but that is why i love you
beautiful freak, beautiful freak
yeah that is why i love you
beautiful freak, beautiful freak
too good for this world
but i hope you will stay
and i'll be here to see that you don't fade away
you're such a beautiful freak
i bet you are flying inside
dart down and then go for cover
and know that i .. i love you
beautiful freak, beautiful freak
you know that i .. i love you
beautiful freak, beautiful freak


NOT READY YET

there's a world outside
and i know cos i've heard talk
in my sweetest dreams
i would go out for a walk
but i don't think i'm ready yet
not feeling up to it now
just not that steady yet
and i don't need you telling me how
there's some happiness
and my stone face cracks again
maybe sometime sooner or later
but i don't think i'm ready yet
not feeling up to it now
just not that steady yet
and i don't need you telling me how
so if i leave my room
don't you tell me to lighten up
maybe sometime sooner or later
but i don't think i'm ready yet
not feeling up to it now
just not that steady yet
and i don't need you telling me how


MY BELOVED MONSTER

my beloved monster and me
we go everywhere together
wearing a raincoat that has four sleeves
gets us thru all kinds of weather
she will always be the only thing
that comes between me and the awful sting
that comes from living in a world that's so damn mean
my beloved monster is tough
if she wants she will disrobe you
but if you lay her down for a kiss
her little heart it could explode
she will always be the only thing
that comes between me and the awful sting
that comes from living in a world that's so damn.. mean
la la la la la la la la
la la la la la la la


FLOWER

turn the ugly light off god
i wanna feel the night
every day it shines down on me
don't you think that i see
don't you think that i see
what it's all about? 
hard to look the other way while the world passes me by
and everyone is trying to bum me out
it's a pretty big world, god
and i am awful small
every day they rain down on me
flower in a hailstorm
flower in a hailstorm
i'm living for the drought
i could throw it back at them
but then i'd play their game
everyone is trying to bum me out
when i came into this world they slapped me
and every day since then i'm slapped again
tomorrow's king: an unsightly coward
you see i know i'm gonna wing
turn the ugly light off god
don't wanna see my face
every day it will betray me
don't you think that i know
don't you think that i know
what they're talking about? 
if they step on me tonight
they're gonna pay someday
everyone is trying to bum me out


GUEST LIST

are you one of the beautiful people? 
is your name on the list? 
wanna be of the beautiful people
wanna hear that i'm missed
hey you with the walkie talkie
i know my clothes are not right
i wish i had my walkie talkie
that reached to god every night
everyone needs to be somebody
everyone needs to find someone who cares
but i don't know if you know what i mean
cos i'm never on your list
are you one of the beautiful people? 
am i on the wrong track? 
sometimes it feels like i'm made of eggshell
and it feels like i'm gonna crack
everyone needs to be somebody
everyone needs to find someone who cares
but i don't know if you know what i mean
cos i'm never on your list.. 
(etc.) 


MENTAL

it's like i dressed up in my mama's clothing
it's like i'm talking to a voice that doesn't exist
it's like i got a wire crossed upstairs
but all i want is just a little truth and that's it
they say i'm mental but i'm just confused
they say i'm mental but i've been abused
they say i'm mental cos i'm not amused by it all
another anchorman is on the teevee
he's got that faraway and vacant look in his eyes
i turn the channel but nothing is changing
the only truth is that everything is a lie
they say i'm mental but i've been abused
they say i'm mental cos i'm not amused by it all
there's truth in everything, there's truth in lies
with all this knowledge i think i'm gonna be wise
they say i'm mental but i'm just confused
they say i'm mental but i've been abused
they say i'm mental cos i'm not amused by it all
not at all (etc.) 


SPUNKY
spunky don't like her uniform
it never fit so good
going back to the orphanage and the place where her garage once stood
well it's a free for all, free for all, free for all
it's a free for all, you and me
and if you don't like what they are telling you
you can't teach a blind man to see
well i can see
spunky looks good in her bright red wig
eating chocolate chip mint ice cream
a cat named lola with a violent past is balled up asleep 'cross her knees
and it's a free for all, free for all, free for all
it's a free for all, you and me
one day the world will be ready for you
and wonder how they didn't see
spunky knows she can save the world in her own little way
turning in her old uniform
cos, y'know, it really didn't pay
cos it's a free for all, free for all, free for all
it's a free for all you and me
i'll walk thru the world with your name on my tongue
and your picture etched on my screen


YOUR LUCKY DAY IN HELL

mama gripped onto the milkman's hand
and then she finally gave birth
years go by and still i don't know
who shall inherit this earth
and no one will know my name until it's on a stone
this could be your lucky day in hell
never know who it might be at your doorbell
this could be your lucky day in hell
waking up with an ugly face
winston churchill in drag
looking for a new maternal embrace
another tired old gag
am i just a walking bag of chewed up dust and bones? 
this could be your lucky day in hell
never know who it might be at your doorbell
this could be your lucky day in hell
father teresa you can't make me into you
i never wanna be like you
why can't you see? it's me
you know it's time to let me go
this could be your lucky day in hell
never know who it might be at your doorbell
this could be your lucky day in hell


MANCHILD

and every time you crave for me i'm here
and anything you hunger for i'll share
and i will be quietly standing by
while slowly i am dying inside
hold me in your arms
and let me be the one who can feel like i am a child in love
every time i talk to you you're down
and every time you need a laugh i'm around
and when you forget i'm here i'm not
it isn't really me that you forgot
hold me in your arms
and let me be the one who can feel like i am a child in love
whisper now and tell me how you'll watch me
and tell me somehow i'm gonna be all right