[Intro] Streetlights hum on a dead end road It is nineteen eighty six on the radio Walkman hissing in my winter coat [Verse 1] Mom's new apartment by the freeway line Cardboard boxes, every room half mine Dad drops me off in his old Camaro Says "I'll see you next week", pulls away slow Report card stuffed in my backpack's tear D's and F's like they were carved in there Teacher says I never look her in the eye I am staring out the window at the power lines [Pre Chorus] All my friends learning how to disappear Cigarettes behind the bleachers, plastic cups of beer I keep laughing like nothing is wrong But it all spills out when they play that song [Chorus] Small town off eighty by the bay Breaking in half in the usual way Mom works nights, dad moves out of state I am bad at school, always running late Thought the drugs might turn the volume down But they just made the quiet too loud in this town [Verse 2] There is an arcade next to the laundromat Change in my pocket, sweat under my cap Posters on my wall of bands I'll never see All ages shows that were never made for me Reagan on the TV talking strong and white Mom killing roaches under kitchen light I hear BART trains from the other side Like a promise that the tracks could be my ride [Pre Chorus] All my friends learning how to disappear Cigarettes behind the bleachers, plastic cups of beer I keep laughing like nothing is wrong But it all spills out when they play that song [Chorus] Small town off eighty by the bay Breaking in half in the usual way Mom works nights, dad moves out of state I am bad at school, always running late Thought the drugs might turn the volume down But they just made the quiet too loud in this town [Bridge] First pill came from a kid who never smiled Said it helps him sleep, said it makes things mild Took it in the back seat, summer heat high Streetlights doubled when I closed my eyes Thought I saw my parents in the rearview glass Two silhouettes that never learned to last [Chorus] Small town off eighty by the bay Breaking in half in the usual way Mom works nights, dad moves out of state I am bad at school, always running late Thought the drugs might turn the volume down But they just made the quiet too loud in this town [Outro] Someday I am leaving, catch that East Bay train But the boy in the back of the class still knows my name And the small town off eighty still hums in my brain
