I Know Why the Poets Drink & Smoke
I KNOW WHY THE POETS DRINK AND SMOKE
by Grant Peeples

Well, I know why the poets drink and smoke
Shoot dope and die young
At least the poets used to
Now days you can’t count on poets much
I used to wanna run with them horses, now I don’t
Cause I can’t stand them begging for acceptance
When it’s forgiveness they should want
And me, I still like to feel a little pain when I bleed
And see every bone that’s broke
And taste some righteous anger in my mouth
When I’m all fresh out of hope.

Well, you see now it’s too damn late
Once you bend the truth to
Get your story straight
Face down at the feet of idols
In the shallows of your faith
Well I, I don’t think much
Of all the poets, all you poets these days.

I used to breath the smoke ‘round their campfires
Now I don’t
Cause you gotta write like you’re already dead
But they’re afraid to so they won’t
And these days I wouldn’t know where to start LOOKING for a poet
If it was after 3:00 a.m. and
I was needing some simple clarification
About the fix our world was in.

No doubt they’re all fast asleep
So safe and warm between the sheets
The rent and the light bill paid
A smile scribbled across their face
Man, I don’t think too much
Of all the poets of all the poets theese day

Well, I don’t think too much
No, I really don’t think too much
No I don’t think too much
Of all the poets these days

I know why the poets used to drink and smoke
And shoot all that dope and then die young
At least the poets used to
Now days, you just can’t count on poets much.