Found a 3.5" diskette from 1995. Popped it in and bingo, a crapload of lyrics that I knew were around someplace but couldn't remember where they had ended up.

A lot of this stuff is crap, and there's a few gems amongst them. Most of them are…well, hell, you know the kind of stuff I write. Now imagine that with three musicians backing it up but even bleaker.

But then there was this, which stood out. I had forgotten this even existed.

purgatory, shotgun

i saw you driving that circus car
weaving all over the road
there was a thigh in your face & a knife in your ribs
& you needed a place to unload
so you saw my thumb & gave me a wink
& pulled over to the side
so i got in the back all folded in half
you said prepare for a bumpy ride

that was merely yesterday
but a lifetime just passed
we’re going the wrong way
& i think we’re low on gas

well your friend works the pedals while you try to steer
as i pop it into first
but there’s animals screaming underneath the hood
and we’re all of us dying of thirst

that was maybe yesterday
but the gas station just passed
i’m going the wrong way
and my lifetime’s done at last

January 24, 1995. What the hell was I thinking that day?