Paint by Number

In my dusty house, in my dirty clothes

Seated in a town on the verge of extinction

Struggling with a tune, alone I compose

A bittersweet ditty 'bout an ex-girlfriend

So why bother with painful memories?

Why tear out my heart for all the world to see?

Why not paint by number

Catchy melody

Burn it up the charts with sweet simplicity

Then do it again

Gotta get away, maybe we should stay

Seated in a town on the verge of explosion

New York and LA, no one listening anyway

Busy predicting the next big thing

So why bother with changing scenery?

Why pack up the car and move to California?

Why not paint by number

Catchy melody

Playing all the parts in deadly harmony

Then do it again

Put the keys into the car

Put the car into drive

You can take us to the moon

Take us for a ride

In his dusty house, in his dirty clothes

Seated in a town overrun by tourists

Struggling with a tune, so alone he composes

A bittersweet ditty in the 3rd person

So why star in your fictional stories?

Why try to deny your criminals and thieves?

Go ahead, Paint By Number

Phony fake I.D.'s

Burn it up the charts with sweet simplicity

Then do it again

Put the keys into the car

Put the car into drive

You can take us to the moon

Take us for a ride