Keep Away - Lou Reed

You keep your jealousy and your snide remarks to yourself

You know that I’m not seeing anyone else

You just keep your ear down to the ground

Yell your head off if you hear a sound

Here’s a whistle, and a badge and a phone

You can arrest me if I’m not at home

And if I don’t keep my word I swear

I’ll keep away

Here’s some books and a puzzle by Escher

Here’s Shakespeare’s Measure For Measure

Here’s a balloon, a rubber band and a bag

Why don’t you blow them up if you think you’ve been had

Here’s a castle, a paper dragon and a moat

An earring, a toothbrush and a cloak

And if I don’t keep my word I swear

I’ll keep away

I swear I’ll keep away, from all we’ve ever done

I’ll keep away the good times, I’ll keep away the fun

I swear I’ll join the army, or maybe the marines

I’ll start to wear designer suits and put away my jeans

I swear that I’ll keep away, from all my old-time friends

I’ll throw away my records, I’ll try to make amends

I swear I’ll give up gambling, and playing with the rent

I’ll give up food and drinking, I’ll give up a life ill-spent

Here’s a yardstick you can measure me by

Here’s a coupon, maybe there’s something you want to buy

Here’s a bandaid in case you cut your feet

Here’s a rubber mallet you can use on your front teeth

Here’s a gun no one uses anymore

And a bracelet made of some inexpensive ore

And if I don’t keep my word

You won’t see me anymore

I swear I’ll keep away, from dignity and pride

I’ll keep away from abstracts, I’ll keep it all inside

Well, I’ll just wrap me up in butter, and melt me on a shelf

I’ll fry in my own juices, I’ll become somebody else

Well, I’ll just swear to keep away, from everything that’s good

I’ll lie down in the gutter, where I really should

I swear I’ll light a candle, to every modern foe

I swear I’ll close the book on this, and not see you anymore

'cause I just got to get away