He ties his bags around his thighs
Newspaper bags filled with newspaper lies
And combs his hair, straightens his tie

But the people still stare the people want to know why
He chose to fill the air with echoes of an ordinary life


After all these years when she was alive
He stood in the corner and he built a disguise
Now that shes gone, the house wont rise

So he sits on a milk crate with a handsaw to the sky
He chose to fill the air with echoes of an ordinary life


So dont call me man, dont call me boy anymore
Take or leave your crown behind and Ill cry your name in war
And theres rocks in windows that Michael threw

And this weeks windowits for you

He dropped out of Amherst in his second year

And now hes digging holes for the state
And he lays so still in the morning chill
Cause hes having trouble sleeping late

And he pours down the concrete on 7th street
And the children come up slow with open hands
And as they set them in, hes ashamed within

Cause he knows that once they walk away hell just go fill it up again
He chose to fill the air with echoes of an ordinary life


Oh and I should go, but can I stay?
Just one more song and Ill be on my way
Dont call me man dont call me boy

Dont call me man dont call me boy

When he lost his home, and his face grew thin

He traded her dresses for a used violin
And when he raised the wood and touched it to his chin
He whispered who I am, aint nothing like the wasted man Ive been

He chose to fill the air with echoes of an ordinary life

Far away we go

We go far away
We go so far that you cant even see us grow