Dr. Inhaled

She said 'I can't wait to see your face
when you see my old hometown
when this breadbox touches down
when all my sisters sing'
I'm getting way ahead of myself
two years after these two met
she hadn't mentioned plane rides yet
or her three siblings
she was a vision in grey & full-length sleaves
he was a crossed-eyed fool unable to breathe
& the doctor inhaled, & the doctor exhaled
& the doctor said 'what would I be if she up and leaves'

'I was lost when I woke up
at the scene of someone's crime
waiting for the FBI
to see how they'd react
but it's not like me to make mistakes
when it comes to where I waste my time
& with whom I ease my mind
& chase away innocence
with cocktails & postcards from overseas
fingerprint files, fingernail files & petty thieves'
& the doctor inhaled, & the doctor exhaled
& the doctor said 'what would I be if she up and leaves'

She pops in the Stones bootleg
& turns the nob up past absurd
she says 'I can't understand a word
but it sounds so sweet this loud'
he agrees & grins
in his '65 Chevette
hasn't been to Detroit yet
but on his way there now
could've been the way she said 'me three'
could've been the hair brushed from her cheek
& the doctor inhaled, & the doctor exhaled
& the doctor said 'what would I be if she up and leaves'

'all the parasites did decide
to keep their thoughts inside their heads
unless their bank account was in red
& on the way down
trust me, I'm amazed we made it through
given all the times we strayed
spent two years in the 11th grade
oh weren't my folks so proud
in not knowing how to part the seas
they offered up little or no relief'
& the doctor inhaled, & the doctor exhaled
& the doctor said 'what would I be if she up and leaves'