[Intro: clipped spoken delivery] They said, “Stay inside the lines.” I brought a ladder and a box of chalk. [Verse 1] I drew a door upon the floor It opened up to seven more A paper moon, a glass giraffe A staircase built to make you laugh I made a hat that hats the hat A map that folds around the map You asked me, “Does it make good sense?” I said, “Not yet. That’s the suspense.” [Pre-Chorus] Take the left turn through the blue Put the upside somewhere new If the rule says, “This is how,” Try a different kind of now [Chorus] Make a little trouble with the ordinary Turn the square into a berry Build a boat from yesterday Sail it somewhere no one’s named Make it stranger, make it yours Kick a window through the doors If the world says, “That’s absurd” Give the absurd a second word [Verse 2] I taught a spoon to tell the time It only rang when things were fine My boots grew wings on Thursday noon And carried me past Saturn’s moon A tiny dragon in my coat Keeps all my brilliant scraps afloat You bring a thought you nearly hid We’ll make a castle out of it [Pre-Chorus] Take the left turn through the blue Put the upside somewhere new If the rule says, “This is how,” Try a different kind of now [Chorus] Make a little trouble with the ordinary Turn the square into a berry Build a boat from yesterday Sail it somewhere no one’s named Make it stranger, make it yours Kick a window through the doors If the world says, “That’s absurd” Give the absurd a second word [Instrumental Break: angular guitar counterpoint and fretless bass] [Breakdown: half-time, playful chant] One bent spoon! Two left shoes! Three good reasons to refuse Too peculiar! Too much fun! Look what happens when we run [Bridge: piano and strings, intimate] Some ideas arrive half-dressed With crooked seams and no address Don’t send them back, don’t make them neat Set them down and give them feet You don’t have to know the end Before you make the first pretend A thought can wobble, change its name And still be worth the little flame [Build] Pass me the impossible I’ll hold it while it grows You bring the wild beginning I’ll bring the wrong-way road [Final Chorus: bright major lift] Make a little trouble with the ordinary Turn the square into a berry Build a boat from yesterday Sail it somewhere no one’s named Make it stranger, make it yours Kick a window through the doors If the world says, “That’s absurd” Give the absurd a second word [Final Refrain] Change the scale Swap the sky Let the fish learn how to fly Move the moon Bend the spoon Give the afternoon a tune [Outro: drop to close voice] They said, “Stay inside the lines.” I made the lines a trampoline.
