Lyrics

sharp as a picture, pretty as a knife
plastic-coated towers in the sodium light
the ground was safety rubber, the trees stood in a line
and i believe they'd found a way to grow 'em easier to climb

plenty people smiling - were they dumb, or maybe stoned?
we were all in this together, each of us alone
decay that i could taste, was that inertion i could feel?
i know i wasn't dreaming, but how could that be real?

great escape to break away from the place
that would have dragged me down
and it's a wonder i could even see to dig the tunnel out

and i would not play the jester as the queen had decreed
there was velvet on her throne but i saw concrete underneath
and i dared not kiss the princess, but i had to tell the king
that his diamonds making circuitry would look better as a ring
how long had i been patient, when i knew i never should?
if you're drinking with the sheriff, how can you ride with robin hood?
well my bow is strung with horsehair, and my reason's all in rhyme,
and the only arrow that i could see was pointing out the time

great escape to break away from the place
that would have dragged me down
and it's a wonder... it's a wonder...
'cause it was sick as money, it was sick as crime
sick as the dirty river, sick as swine
sick as no child would ever imagine life to be
sick as the devil, sick as me

i was losing my religion, was losing all my friends
had a list of broken promises and a tangle of loose ends
i saw visions of the princess, but i knew she didn't care
she would never trade her palace for my castles in the air
and now i'm busy burning bridges, 'cause i won't be looking back
and i stake a claim to nothing, yeah i'm pulling down the flag
and i may not find nirvana, but i'll seek it if i choose
i ain't shopping for insurance 'cause i got nothing left to lose

great escape to break away from the place
that would have dragged me down
and it's a wonder i could even see to dig the tunnel out