Coughing Colors

She homed with thieves
Kicked up dirty leaves
She was a maniac
No one's heart attack

She got around
Slept on the bad side of town
She was cooler than you
Way cooler than me

She was true
All blinded and bruised
She didn't give a fuck
No, she had given up

She was alive
She was caught on fire
She was everything
She was all of this

She opened up and laid it all right there
She said, I don't mind
No, no I don't care
I'll help you shovel out my shallow hole

And I know, I know they're threatening
But at least we're not the ones carrying
Such heavy, heavy, heavy stoning stones

And yeah, I know they'll get you down
They'll do you in and they'll drag it out
'Cause me and you, we are one of a kind

She liked to lose
Never wore Sunday shoes
She found her luck in wells
And corner stores and jails

She was crazy
A downtown kind of baby
Always dangerous
She got me down on my knees

She made it rain
She called the wind and then it came
Oh, with the wave of a hand
She brought the sunshine right in

She was the sky
Beyond steeple and the choir
Oh, the preacher's amen
His hallelujah child

She opened up and laid it all right there
She said, I don't mind, no, no I don't care
I'll help you shovel out my shallow hole

And I know, I know they are threatening
But at least we're not the ones carrying
Such heavy, heavy, heavy stoning stones

So when your bones are broke and you're all alone
And the fog's so thick you can't see up close
Just know that I will end up strangled too

And when the floods they come all rushing in
And the boat is full and you can't get in
Oh, it's okay if you don't want to swim

And when you're swallowed up, oh, don't you cry
Just give right in, don't you try to fight
'Cause baby, I wouldn't pay no mind
There's nothing you can do

They'll have you coughing up your colors
They'll have you coughing up your colors
They'll have you coughing up your colors
They'll have you coughing up your colors

She sang the blues out of time and out of tune
Spoke no silver spoon, only simple truths
She was a friend, stabbed backs and broke plans
She would give you her coat or put nails through your hand

She was wise, full magic and life
Oh, you could see it in her eyes
Oh, yeah, I saw it in his eyes

She was more than this
Ya, way more than this
She was everything
She was all of this