1975 Blood in the Water

Umbrellas bloom on a perfect shore

Cash drawers sing by the bait-shop door

Kids chase gulls through the penny arcade

While a red little ribbon curls under the shade

Mayor sells daylight and ignores the sound

Keeps the warning signs turned down

Whistles blow, but the brass band plays

As a cold shadow starts to prey

Don’t count the waves

Don’t name the dread

Keep selling blue

Till the blue turns red

Blood in the water, running feet in the sand

Good-time town with a shaking hand

Blood in the water, stay away from the shore

The sea wants more than it wanted before

Clap for the summer, clap for the lie

Black fin cutting through a postcard sky

Blood in the water, hear that sound

Paradise bites where the screaming drown

Chum line drawing out a shadow crown

Barrels pop up, then they all go down

Old boat coughing in a gasoline prayer

Salt wind tangles in a hunter’s hair

Table scars and a war-tale hush

Engine knock and the red tide rush

Radio crackles, then the signal dies

Tracking a feeding machine, with soulless eyes

Don’t count the teeth

Don’t count the dead

Keep feeding daylight

Till the daylight bled

Blood in the water, running feet in the sand

Good-time town with a shaking hand

Blood in the water, stay away from the shore

The sea wants more than it wanted before

Clap for the summer, clap for the lie

Black fin cutting through a postcard sky

Blood in the water, hear that sound

Paradise bites where the screaming drown

Stern goes under

Teeth in the foam

No shore, no signal

No way home

AIM THROUGH THE PANIC

FIRE THROUGH THE ROT

TAKE THE SHOT

TAKE THE SHOT

SMILE, YOU SON OF A BITCH

Blood in the water, running feet in the sand

Good-time town with a shaking hand

Blood in the water, stay away from the shore

The sea wants more than it wanted before

Clap for the summer, clap for the lie

Black fin cutting through a postcard sky

Blood in the water, hear that sound

Paradise bites where the screaming drown