And the band played on
As the helicopters whirred
Drunk on the lawn in a nuclear dawn
My senses finally blurred
He was a rock
To the end, a solid reminder
Couldn't deny a friend
We lived in the noise and the sweet amber poison
Peekin' up the skirt of the end
And we'd drink
Two gnarly dudes and some records
Much like plates of black food
We filled up our faces, saw some far places
Stood on the roof in the nude
And the band played on
As the helicopters whirred
Drunk on the lawn in a nuclear dawn
My senses finally blurred
Between poles
He said "we're like cows in the grass"
Brushing off flies
Chaise-lounging around, standing up, falling down
Till we no longer opened our eyes
And we'd drink
Ever notice how drinking's like war
Cup of troops o'er the gums
To the end of our health, a campaign 'gainst myself
Armed with bourbons and scotches and rums
And the band played on
As the helicopters whirred
Drunk on the lawn in a nuclear dawn
My senses finally blurred
Think of bombs
We're poised on the edge of disaster
Whether it's right or it's wrong
We opened the window, played some nintendo
Sang a few bars of some pretty old song
Irene, goodnight
Irene, goodnight
Goodnight, Irene
Goodnight, Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
O! To dream
Those impotent bones of extinction
Flying graceful and free
None but the best, 'cause the man cannot rest
Till he's finally beaten his me
And the band played on
As the helicopters whirred
Drunk on the lawn in a nuclear dawn
My senses finally blurred
Till the end
He passed out on the sun-deck that morning
Quietly saying goodbye
But I was so hammered, I sputtered and stammered
Told him he couldn't just die
He was a rock
Went straight for his own Armageddon
Face froze in a grin
Ambulance flying in, I never drank again
Can't really call that a loss or a win
And the band played on
As the helicopters whirred
Drunk on the lawn in a nuclear dawn
My senses finally blurred