Bill Callahan
Permanent Smile
Oh, God
Can you feel the sun
On your back?
Oh, God
Can you see your shadow
Inky black
On the sand?
Oh, God
Can you hear the salt water
Drying on your skin?
Oh, God
Can you feel my heart beating
In my tongue?

Oh, God
By being quiet, I hope
To alleviate your debt
Oh, God
By sitting still, I hope
To lighten your load

And when your shadow
Covers me
From head to toe
Curtonevra flies
Tell me it's my
My time to go
Seven waves of insects
Make babies in
In my skin
Seven waves of insects
Make families
In my skin

It's just like (It's just like animals)
Animals that play
In the flesh (Flesh - flesh - flesh - flesh - flesh - flesh - flesh)
Rotted off my skull
And then I
Will have earned my permanent
My permanent smile

Oh, God
I never, never
Ask why
Oh, God
I never, never
Ask why