Hard to be a Seagull in the City


I had skin 'neath my feathers
and the steel-hard look of a woodpecka'
I was hatched by the water
and took off just like a Cessna
I could soar like Livingston right
into the sun
Then shit on a casanova
With my gray-black jacket
and plumes slicked sweet
Silver streaks on my wings
just like a Boeing in heat
When I zoom down the street
I could hear its heart beat
The chicks flew back and said,
"Don't that bird look pretty."
The jay in the maple cried
out, "Peanuts for your pity."
Them greasy birds downtown
sure squawk gritty
It's so hard to be a seagull
in the city.

I was duke of the dumpster,
mama, I could pick some trash
I was prince of the pigeons
crowned uptown at the
bird bath
I was the hawk's main flyer
I'd help everyone cruise
Just a backstreet scavenger
with the lice to lose
and when the cold came 'round
I'd end up in town
An owl appeared like an
eagle through the steam in
the street
Showin' me a claw I knew even
the cats couldn't beat
I felt his sharp talons on my neck
as I flew into the heat
It's so hard to be a seagull when
you're just a bird out on
the street

And the wizards of the airways
coast just like the living dead
As their wings beat out the
rhythm, their beaks fixed
straight ahead
They skirt the line of balance
and stay up on just a thread
But it's too hot in these clouds
you can get pinned up by the heat
You get ready to land at the
next stop but get blown back
to your seat
Your wings start beatin' faster
as you stick out your feet
Then you're outa that cloud
and BAM back down on the street
And them South Side starlings
sure look pretty
The jay on the fence cries
out, "Peanuts for you pity."
And them downtown birds
sure squawk gritty
It's so hard to be a seagull
in the city.