Tonio K. - The Rake's Progress

(Tonio K./Steve Schiff)

 

i've been working in a coal mine 

on top of the world 

i've been watching the horizon 

i've been watching all the girls 

i'm a girl watcher 

i've been countin' on a miracle 

i've been carryin' a gun 

i've been slipping into darkness 

in the noon day sun 

and it's a hard lesson

 

i've got 16 tons of questions for the teacher 

i've got 16 tons of monkeys on my back 

i've got 16 tons of doubt about the future 

it's a wonder that i've managed to survive the silent wreckage of my past

 

i've been laughin' on the inside 

i've been living with the pain 

i've been working with the system 

i've been waiting in the rain 

i'm a born swimmer 

i've been lookin' for an answer 

i've been lookin' for the love 

i've been standing in the quicksand 

sinking down but standing up 

i need a life saver

 

i've got 16 tons of questions for the teacher 

i've got 16 tons of monkeys on my back 

i've got 16 tons of doubt about the future 

it's a wonder that i've managed to survive the silent wreckage of my past

 

you take the little baby 

and fill it up with fear 

and a blinding insecurity 

then sell him cigarettes and beer 

he's a consumer 

then you shovel in the nonsense 

shovel on the lies 

guns and information 

drugs and bad advice 

meet your new neighbor

 

he's got 16 tons of questions for the teacher...

 

pub. N.Y.M./Pressman/Cherry Music (ASCAP), admin. by Warner Bros./ Property Situation Music (BMI), admin. by Warner Bros.