"New Monkey" lyrics - ELLIOTT SMITH

Here comes the sidewalk boss again
Telling me how I can't cave in
That I'm a study in black, need a pat on the back
I look up and smile
A picture of dissatisfaction that he can only see as a junkie
Though I might be straight as an arrow, he's busy shaking hands with my monkey
Busy shaking hands with my monkey

Well, I go in the car, straight to the bar
Where my sweetie pours the beer
For the millions of fans ignoring the bands
He's in my ear; wants me to live in denial
Says, "You've got to settle for something
Though it might not be really living, anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing"

No actor action man gonna move in to take my place
I'll be pumping out the product, just a total waste

Look at your hands unoccupied, look at the lengths you'll go to hide
You're under the veil, pretending to fail
Got a whole lot of empty time left to go; now you've got to fill it with something
I know what you can do, don't you know? Anything is better than nothing

No actor action man gonna move in to take my place
I'll be pumping out the product, just a total waste

I'm here with my cup, afraid to look up. This is how I spend my time
Lazing around, head hanging down
Stuck inside my imagination; busy making something from nothing
Pictures of hope (and depression). Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing. Anything is better than nothing