lizard man won't stop staring

[INTRO — slurred paranoid whisper] Ain't blinked once... Been starin' at me since Tuesday... I moved three times. He moved three times. I think he's either my enemy or my new best friend. [VERSE 1] I'm sittin' on a stump with my jar in my hand Fog rolled in and swallowed the land Then I felt them eyeballs drilling through my spine Turned around and there he was, right on time Green scales shining like wet river stone Crooked little grin like he already knew me Hat made of moss with a crawdad pin Said, "Boy, you look thirsty. Can I come in?" I said, "Come in where? This is a tree." He said, "Exactly. Now you're starting to see." I said, "Brother, I'm just trying to cope." He said, "That's what folks say when they run out of hope." Then he sat on a log like he'd paid the rent Crossed both his legs and just stared at me I said, "You gonna blink?" He said, "Eventually." [HOOK] That Lizard Man won't stop starin' Moonlit pupils bright and flarin' If he's real or in my head I don't know and I'm scared to swear it That Lizard Man won't stop starin' Ain't said much, but he ain't hidin' Every time I turn away I hear them little claws behind me [RAP 1 — drawled, rhythmic paranoia] He leaned in close, breath smelled like rain Said, "Boy, you glow like sugarcane" Told me tales of the Bayou Bone King Said the moss got eyes and the cattails sing I scooted left, he scooted too I moved right, he followed through I said, "What are you?" He said, "Depends on the weather." I said, "You some kind of ghost?" He said, "Not exactly." I said, "Then what?" He said, "You ask too many questions." He said, "You see me 'cause you're sippin' too deep." I said, "You talkin' 'cause I ain't had no sleep." He pointed at the moon and whispered, "Don't stare." I looked up. There was another Lizard Man up there. [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK] [Fiddle: drunken swamp waltz spiraling into manic phrases] [Dobro: ghost-slides, wide bends, and reptilian cries] [Banjo: jittery hiccup rolls with sudden rhythmic stops] [Baritone ukulele: crooked circus plucks] [Harmonica: distant swamp-breath calls] [FX: frogs, bubbles, dripping water, warped swamp laughter] [VERSE 2] He ain't smoked once but he's high as me Said he watched my soul climb up a cypress tree Pointed one claw and said, "You ain't alone, boy" Then vanished like a half-made toy I called his name and the swamp went still Then something whispered from the top of the hill "Don't follow him unless you wanna know." I said, "Who said that?" The frogs said, "We don't know." Then I found three footprints down by the creek Three toes each and twice as wide as my feet I touched one print and the whole world shook He appeared beside me and said, "Don't look." I said, "Look at what?" He said, "Exactly." [HOOK — fuller, uneasy] That Lizard Man won't stop starin' Moonlit pupils bright and flarin' If he's real or in my head I don't know and I'm scared to swear it That Lizard Man won't stop starin' Now I think he's got me figured Every time I close my eyes Them yellow pupils getting bigger [RAP 2 — darker, half-laughing] Now every ripple looks like reptile lips Every rotten log got a pair of hips Every frog went silent when he walked by Even the moon looked away from the sky I told my people and they said I'm gone But my boots still damp and my mind still on I said, "Come see him, he's right over there." They looked where I pointed. Ain't nothin' but air. Then he whispered right beside my ear, "Don't worry, boy. They can't see what's near." I turned around and asked him why. He said, "That's the blessing." I said, "What's the curse?" He said, "You already know." [FINAL HOOK] That Lizard Man won't stop starin' Moonlit pupils bright and flarin' If he's real or in my head I don't know and I'm scared to swear it That Lizard Man won't stop starin' Now I think I'm seeing double Every time I close my eyes There's another one in the puddle [OUTRO — exhausted whisper] He ain't blinked yet... Neither have I. So maybe he's waitin'... Maybe I'm the one who's been watchin' him. [Long pause] Maybe that's what he wanted.