Chris told us to be there an hour too early
But since no one else came, it's like he's talking to me
I called up a couple of friends
The one who sleeps on trains and the one who drives a scooter

The guy smoking on the porch of the Baptist Church
Told me I was in the right place half an hour later
I passed the time by avoiding the tables
Where homeless people sold bootlegged pornography

And under the freeway were bonfires and cardboard
Shopping carts and people in temporary residence
Fifty thousand cars returning for the night
My hopes went up every time I saw one missing a headlight

And it never started to show
That we're all so bitterly self-conscious
That maybe someone with any optimism at all
Could ever really get through to us
Have you ever wanted to see
That immortal figure as a potential friend
I never thought the commute would be that tiring

I peered at the lock as Chris opened the door
And he told me that now the door's open
And the couple of friends came in a car
And we all watched a movie about overweight Elvis impersonators

And we said we'd leave if nothing good happened
By about nine fifteen, which was just when Chris walked up
They turned on the neon Jesus and told a few jokes
And it was about then I knew we could all be friends

In this
Church among empty lots
I
Swear that if we talked about our jobs, I fear
That no one would ever come back and the fundraising drive would be over

And it never started to show
That we're all so bitterly self-conscious
That maybe someone with any optimism at all
Could ever really get through to us
Have you ever wanted to see
That immortal figure as a potential friend
I never thought the commuter would be that tiring

Russ, off the train, liked springloaded smile
Thought it was just a phrase that stuck together
And I saw his motions as a beacon of hope
That maybe some day everyone would be listening

Jason came by to remind us of the moment
Told us what these little shows mean in quite literal terms
And as even the misanthropes started enjoying the company
He got us all to sing the chorus together

And it never started to show
That we're all so bitterly self-conscious
That maybe someone with any optimism at all
Could ever really get through to us
Have you ever wanted to see
That immortal figure as a potential friend
I never thought the commuter would be that tiring

I told Chris that I'd always stop by
For these insignificant events in Chicago
Since I wasn't here for the first time around
The new first time would just have to do

He's got my address for the sake of Manitoba
Maybe the paper trail leads to his house
Through highways and wordplay and shopping carts and airplanes
And wearing your socks to bed

Neon Jesus was hanging from the ceiling
Of a broke-down church with the Stations of the High School Artist
We surround ourselves with people, but if there aren't too many
We nix conventions and surround ourselves with friends

And it never started to show
That we're all so bitterly self-conscious
That maybe someone with any optimism at all
Could ever really get through to us
Have you ever wanted to see
That immortal figure as a potential friend
I never thought the commuter would be that tiring

The Winnipeg Jets were an ice hockey franchise that existed in both the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League. In 1996, the franchise was moved to Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes due to financial troubles.
--Wikipedia

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