The kids are loud, the house it stinks
He cracks a beer and pours another drink
Says he needs some time to think
Hindsight askewed, today's the day
She'll be home soon, the kids'll be okay
He finds the keys and drives away

The barroom reeks a golden stench
Assume your place upon the weary bench
You take the hit, don't even flinch
And the ghosts of friends who've moved along
Can still be felt but they don't sing along
To your stubborn, stupid song

You've been pretending loss could be your gain
But in the end you're just as lame

Now where have you been? You've been in the down town again
And it's the same old thing:
The flailing fall, the flake and wallow, forsaking friends
And where have you gone? 'Cause you been gone so damn long.
Okay, what's wrong,
Are you the only one to have ever once felt strong and then lost where you belong?

Some buffer for the years ahead
Means nothing if you're living dead
Now where have you gone?

Your thoughts are dulled, her words are sharp
Your memory's stained, you make the disconnect between the heart and brain
You figured loss could be your gain
You read the contract and you signed your name
Said goodbye and walked away

You figured loss could be your gain
In some fickle lease that's paid in shame
But in the end you're just as lame
In sad attempts to pluck some gem
From down below and deep within
With hazy eyes and sallow skin you wait to find just

Now where have you been? You've been in the down town again
And it's the same old thing:
The flailing fall, the flake and wallow, forsaking friends
And where have you gone? 'Cause you been gone so damn long.
Okay, what's wrong,
Are you the only one to have ever once felt strong and then lost where you belong?

And what have you seen? Was it all that you had ever dreamed?
Is there beauty to be dredged and skimmed in filthy nets
And lifted from these beery depths?
To be dragged and strewn upon the shore or simply scraped up off the floor
Attested to through glass-bottom eyes soft and sad and sore
Where have you been?