Damn Near

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Kurt Huget

Take it fast as the devil, or play it slow
Hell is the limit to how far that you can go
Toss a handful of notes up in the air
Come down wearing them in your hair
Believe what you want but wishing won't make it so

There's a man at the blackboard proving two and two make four
Maybe it used to but it sure don't do it no more
One and one don't make eleven
But there's three ways to make a seven
Spit on the dice, and pray when you bet the store

Too damn near to the edge of the border
Stand in the middle but don't cross over
Too damn near to the brink of disaster
That if nothing else is clear

South for summer, heading north for the winter time
Run from the end of the world, baby, rise and shine
Try to get home before they find us
Turn off the lights or try to blind us
Put rings through our noses and make us walk the line

I've been sleeping in the tower of the lightning, whoa-oh
Feeling the noose around my neck and it's tightening slow
Sheets of rain, a pillow of thunder
Nightmare city and it's no wonder
Trying to answer your call but the phone won't ring, no

Too damn near to the edge of the border
Stand in the middle but don't cross over
Too damn near to the brink of disaster
That if nothing else is clear

Too damn near to the edge of the border
Stand in the middle but don't cross over
Too damn near to the brink of disaster
That if nothing else is clear