The Uses of Insomnia

Insomnia ain't all bad. Some weeks ago, I had the germ of an idea for a parody of Downtown, and this morning it bore its first fruit. Later today, while standing outside a Dunkin' Donuts in Hoboken awaiting my daughter's return from a sleepover, most of the rest of the song formed itself in bits and pieces, and I've been tinkering with them off and on since, taking time out only to focus on my daughter's graduation.

I can’t ignore the smells that come from next door,
Because my townhouse stands
Downwind.

Started to roam, but left my BlackBerry home:
I’m sitting on my hands—
Downtime.

I’ve looked around, and I have found that life is full of downers;
I’ve suffered through the Asian flu and seen The Out-of-Towners.
What can I say?

The world’s a depressing place—
And, from reports that I’ve heard, things are lousy in space;
So I’m
Downcast—
Deeply dejected and
Downcast.
Just as expected, I’m
Downcast—
Boy, am I down on my luck.

Look at GM—when Fortune sticks it to them,
Then what does GM do?
Downsize.

Plays like Macbeth that end in violent death
Have got the proper view—
Downbeat.

I think it wise to recognize we’re none of us in clover.
You’re so naïve, if you believe you’re better off than Rover!
Don’t be a fool:

The world’s a depressing place—
So give the bullet a bite, then be ready to brace
For your
Downfall.
Maybe you’ve dreaded your
Downfall.
Everyone’s headed for
Downfall,
Ending up down in the dumps.

* * * *

Oh, yes, indeed, the good succeed—but only in romances.
I wouldn’t give an adjective for anybody’s chances.
Bugger it all!

The world’s a depressing place—
You greet the day with a smile and get slapped in the face;
So let’s
Down tools!
Give up the struggle and
Down tools!
Don’t be a Muggle—just
Down tools!
All it comes down to is [raspberry].

(I've never used [raspberry] in a lyric before. And I seem to be going through a Blue Period.)

Lyric © 2005 Nathaniel DesH. Petrikov