Drive, He Said

Steve Taylor

Drive, He Said



On a desert road that steamed the sky

with the windows up and the air on high

I was off the stage, I was on the mend

with a solo drive to a holiday weekend

my thirsty car came to a stop at the Reptile Gardens Curio Shop

when a wind came hissing through the vents,

and I felt my sneakers growing tense

my forehead broke in a cold, cold sweat--

in the rearview mirror was a silhouette

then I heard the doorlocks take a dive

and a whisper screamed "Don't turn around, just drive"



Scratch! Dressed in red--pointy tail and horn-rimmed head

and a widow's peak like Eddie Munster

I sat frozen in my seat--"We haven't had the chance to meet...

are you a singing telegram or something?"

he just flashed a hellish smile--"Let's go driving for a while"

he held something in his hand I'd never seen before

it was my Chevrolet's pink slip



Scratch! Evil eye

"Step on it, boy, if you want to stay alive" he said

"Don't look surprised, you know what I want

I've lived for years inside your trunk, so drive" he said

"Let's get talking business, son--you ain't fooling anyone

I know just what you want to be--now it's time to work for me, so drive"



If this is a nasty dream

I'd prefer to wake up here

I believe the point is clear...



Scratch! Out of my car!

He said "Ha! I've come too far...

besides, I kinda like the velour seatcovers"

God, help me! What do I do?

"Shut up boy, it's too late for you...now drive!

all you phonies get it wrong--double lives take half us long

should have kept your windows clean--now I'm part of this machine

you've got a good 80,000 miles left

before the recall..."



If this is a nasty dream

I believe the point's quite clear

I'd prefer to wake up here



I started humming Amazing Grace

he said "Come on, boy, give me a break"

so I hit th