It is spitting like an open fire in a dark alleyway
It is sitting on the shoulder of every yesterday
It is shining a light in your eyes
It is checking every one of your new alibis

It is rising like the evening tide around an old shipwreck
It is tightening that pretty little noose around your neck
Oh, and any second now it will choose
Yeah, any second now all hell will break loose

So keep it safe, keep it safe, keep it safe
Keep it safe, keep it safe, keep it safe
All of the thousands of you come down with the heart string blues

It is preaching all the virtues of love and providence
It would sell your soul for a sad song but it won't pay your rent
It is raising those old rebel flags
It is picking though your long buried ashes and rags

So keep it safe, keep it safe, keep it safe
Keep it safe, keep it safe, keep it safe
All of the thousands of you come down with the heart string blues

It is singing its songs for the injured and dispossessed
It is pointing that twelve gauge of truth straight at your chest
Though it's been broken more times than you know
It's blue and it’s bleeding, it's got a mind of its own

So keep it safe, keep it safe, keep it safe
Keep it safe, keep it safe, keep it safe
All of the thousands of you come down with the heart string blues
All of the thousands of you come down with the heart string blues