Pretty, pretty wilted dasies all in a row
on the top of Mount Vernon in the dirty snow
where the shadow sings of sunshine like a dying crow
pretty, pretty wilted dasies all in a row

Cuz it's a long way to and a short ride from the top
it's a rotten middle finger and the cancer will not stop
it's a long way to and a short ride from the top
your hand begins to slip or they cut
either way you drop

Your small apartment is a mess but you don't seem to care
the dirty dishes in the corner go with the broken chair
Higher grows the stack of bills that calmly declare
if you don't pay within a week then your shit is theirs

You go to work Monday through Sunday, open to close
the seven dollars that they pay, son, is good as a broken nose
when no one's watchin' you pull your pants down and touch you toes
your undercut n' your exploited but that's how the country grows

Cuz it's a long way to and a short ride to the top
it's a rotten middle finger and the cancer will not stop
it's a long way to and a short ride from the top
your hand begins to slip or cut
either way you take what they have stolen
or you try to break what can't be broken
you can speak what you believe
but every thought comes preconceived
you try to wash your hands of this
clear your conscience and dismiss
pretend our problems don't exist
we're takin' aspirin for a broken wrist

cuz it's a long, long way to the top
it's a rotten middle finger but the cancer will not stop
it's a long, long way to the top
your hand begins to slip or cut
either way we...