Next of Kin

I saw a crash on the interstate It left a feeling I could not shake Just a name in a database that must be notified It's not a phone call I wanna make A stranger answers, I hesitate "I got some bad news, it couldn't wait Are you sitting down?" Her bathrobe hangs on the bedroom door Though she's been dead for a year or more He buried her by the sycamore So that he could keep her close It broke his heart and it made him old Tries to rebuild but it just erodes Some people say that's the way it goes But he don't feel that way You get too drunk and you can't perform Something dies when a star is born I spread my anger like Agent Orange I was indiscriminate Yeah, I met Lou Reed and Patti Smith It didn't make me feel different I guess I lost all my innocence Way too long ago She called my bluff and she won the fight I ran outside in the hot twilight I had a lighter that didn't light Well I know I shouldn't smoke I was gone, I was free to leave Walking fast down the Bowery Tears in my eyes so I couldn't see But I made my way back home --- Next Of Kin - Conor Oberst