You know, if I were famous
You could all share my life
Be with me as I grow up
Leave my hometown, take a wife

Get fat
Get old
Get dopey and die
It's gonna happen anyway
It's gonna happen someday
Shit, it already may
But at least this way
Someone would care

In the late summer twilight
I'd pretend this was TV
Every school year a new season
The whole world was watching me
New plotlines to resolve
New supporting cast to meet
And the klieg light sun went down
On my famous house and town
And I'd interview myself
Because if I didn't
Nobody would

Run don't walk, don't turn around.

Not your boyfriend
Not you prom king
I am no one
I am free
Hear the fat man
He is singin
Sing "I'm walkin, yes indeed."
But this unfinished business
Grinds me slowly to a halt
Now I stare forever backwards
Like a pillar of salt

Here's a verse for my parents
Such a fine job raising me
Pass me blame for all my failures
But it's luck when I succeed
You said, "Get off your pointless path now, kid
No matter where it leads."
So now that it's brought me here
At least try to sound sincere
Though I shrugged off all your plans
You can still brag about me
To your friends

At my high school reunion
They will all gather round
From this hotel piano
I coax sweet, sacred sounds
It's the rumble of redemption
It's the tinkling of hope
At last the cheerleaders cheer
And the cool kids raise their beers
And the whole world strains to hear
Then I wake up
Knowing I won't even go.

Run don't walk, don't turn around.