the bluebird

there’s a bluebird in my heart
that wants to get out
but I’m too tough for him
I say stay in there I’m not going
to let anybody see you.

there’s a bluebird in my heart
that wants to get out
but I pour whiskey on him
and inhale cigarette smoke
and the whores and the bartenders
and the grocery clerks
never know that he’s in there.

there’s a bluebird in my heart
that wants to get out
but I’m too tough for him
I say stay down
do you want to mess me up?
you want to screw up the works?
you want to blow my book sales
in Europe?

there’s a bluebird in my heart
that wants to get out
but I’m too clever I only let
him out at night sometimes
when everybody’s asleep.
I say I know that you’re there
so don’t be sad.
then I put him back
but he’s singing a little in there
I haven’t quite let him die
and we sleep together like that
with our secret pact
and it’s nice enough to make a man weep
but I don’t weep

do you?