This place is a prison

and these people aren't your friends

Inhaling thrills through twenty dollar bills

and the tumblers are drained and then flooded

again and again.



There's guards at the onramps

Armed to the teeth

And you may case the grounds

from the cascades to Puget Sound

but you are not permitted to leave.



I know there's a big world out there

like the one that I saw on the screen

in my living room late last night

it was almost too bright to see.



and I know that it's not a party

if it happens every night

pretending there's glamour and candelabrum

when you're drinking by candelight.



And what does it take

to get a drink in this place?

what does it take?

how long must I wait?

(repeat)



how long must I wait?