Sprawl | Michael Clem

Sprawl
(by Michael Clem)

Thinking back to when we had a clearing
Carnies up the road in September and in May
Flyers in the town on every other lamp post
We knew the greatest show on Earth was on its way

Little Leaguers manned each and every entrance
motivated by their fingers in the till
Station wagons came and rolled in like a convoy
What a time we had, I wish they had it still

BUT NOW IT’S A MALL — PART OF THE SPRAWL
WE GOT IT ALL — ONE-STOP SHOPPING BLISS
METAL AND GLASS — BURY THE PAST
YOU BET YOUR ASS — HEAVEN LOOKS LIKE THIS

You could see the tents from Elm & Bainbridge
One, the main event, and two for broads with beards
and other oddities, like gypsies eating sabers
but we never went, the barkers were too weird

Then there was a time we got a scolding
for laughing at the girls who fell off of their spheres
They had lots of charm and glitter but no balance
Perhaps if they could leave, they’d not be working here
No, no

THEY’D WORK AT THE MALL — PART OF THE SPRAWL
NOT ON THE BALL — A STATIONARY BLISS
METAL AND GLASS — BURY THE PAST
YOU BET YOUR ASS — HEAVEN LOOKS THIS

(bridge)
Haves and the Have Mores reason with Have Nots
“What do you really need with vacant lots?”
Compare your sentiment with what we’ve got
A fatted bird in one in every fifty pots
hundred pots … thousand pots … Screw Have Nots

Whoever was the man who owned the clearing
cashed in all his chips and moved near Tampa Bay
The Caterpillars came and rolled in like convoy
and made that thriving market there today

WE CALL THE MALL — PART OF THE SPRAWL
WE GOT IT ALL — ONE-STOP SHOPPING BLISS
METAL AND GLASS — BURY THE PAST
YOU BET YOUR ASS — HEAVEN LOOKS LIKE THIS

WE GOT A MALL — PART OF THE SPRAWL
WE USE IT ALL — FOR ALL IT’S WORTH
METAL AND GLASS — BURY THE PAST
YOU BET YOUR ASS – IT’S THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH