Hold Your Breath

One kid pulled a gun
in seething rage
and shot the other one
through startled face
holy shit
steer around the body
don't get blood
on my wheels

just hold your breath
and drive on

cops peering
hard-core paranoia
strobing lights
of checkpoint
hunting drunks
hands on weapons
flashlights pointed at suspicion
behind steamed windows
slow it down
but keep it moving
keep looking ahead

just hold your breath
and drive on

little sweetness
all dolled up
for dark and johns
tight curls strutting stuff
for sale
beside abandoned steel mill
don't slow down
at the corner
lock the goddam doors
fifteen'll get you twenty and
she's all of  twelve years old

just hold your breath
and drive on

That one used to
have a home and family
but now he's only got
a habit and scarred arms
selling shit to one and all
Keep the windows up
"No thanks man,
we don't want none!"

just hold your breath
and drive on

speed it up
don't stop here
at the light
that one's got a gun
and wants the car
so floor it
and fucking duck

just hold your breath
and drive on

keep going
don't look
don't slow
don't care
don't stop
don't fucking think
It'll be okay
it's not too close
to where we live
not yet

just hold your breath
and drive on