JANE DOE #59

…way back into the brain
back where there’s never any pain
and the rain falls gently on the town
and over the heads of all of us
and in the labyrinth of streams
beneath the quiet unearthly presence
of gentle hill dwellers
in the gentle hills around
reptiles abounding
fossils…caves…cool air heights…

–Mr. Mojo Risin’

we’re gonna raise up the ghosts
of the Topanga Canyon freaks
gettin’ stronger from the heat
and burnt from the meat
that we didn’t eat last week

you want hallucinations and signs?
go and have mine
we’ve got a lot of work to do
sometime around nine
as the moon begins to shine
we’re gonna come looking for you

gonna take you back to ’72
that’s what I’m gonna do
in a tequila-soaked backseat
gonna die a little each day
and make our own way
to the heros down the street
got scars & designs
& holes in my mind
and the cameras begin to roll
we’re gonna save up time
build up our minds
and then we’re gonna save your soul

got a side door entry
to the 21st century
for the Topanga Canyon freaks
gonna take a ramble
on a midnight gamble
that it all won’t go to the meek
we’ll take it by land
roll the taco stand
and wait till guns are drawn
turn on the charm
defuse the alarm
and move on

it’s 2001
but before we’re done
we’re gonna take it back to ’69
the streets are clean
the money’s lean
and we got a lot of Thunderbird wine

we’ll wait outside of your drive
look for signs of life
and then we’ll drive away
we don’t fuss
but from the looks of us
you’ll know we’re ready to play

your mom was 17
when it started to get mean
by Mullholland Drive
now you’re 22
and there’s not much
you wouldn’t do
to feel more alive

we got the faded old photos
and nowhere to go
but we drive until we drop
we just push the line
an inch at a time
until we’re forced to stop

–Steve Wynn