The Trial

So you and your scandals sit
At a table candlelit
Flirt and reminisce
Lean in for that goodnight kiss

That’s it, you’re on the other side
Where your sins must be justified
You stare into the judge’s face
And begin to plead your case

“You see, I was born in a nowhere town
To a daddy who was never around
Mama was always on the run
Searching for her special someone

There was a sadness in her eyes
It was compromise after compromise
I was a burden she couldn’t lift
But I learned to get by and grift

Grew up fast, faster than most
Made my way along the coast
Learned how to talk and how to hear
Working shifts as a cashier

Learned how to play a loser’s hand
Picked up girls with fake smiles and tans
‘Cause losers hands won’t let you win
If anything is genuine

Don’t you tell me that I’m at fault
If you don’t got sugar, you work with salt
If I hurt someone they had it coming
It’s a race and we were all of us running

Yes it true, Marianne was good to me
But she thought my love was true and free
Everything in this world has got its cost
If you don’t pay, then you must get tossed

I can see you’re not convinced
I saw you flinch and I saw you wince
Well you’re the one that made me as I am
Don’t blame me for your little scam

‘Cause what’s the use in being all high-strung
Ain’t it true that only the good die young?
At least I made my mark and left a trace
At least I didn’t go down as a hopeless case”

Yes you and your scandals sat
Then drove off in your black Cadillac
And you felt free, yeah you felt fine
As you disappeared into the horizon line