I work with a girl, she wears great big shoes
She wants to be a star in a great big city
I said, "Go on girl, you got nothing to lose.
I bet you're talented and really pretty."
"Oh, I know," she says,
"What if I go and fail?"
"Oh hell, what if you do?"

We live in this town, you work nine to five
Get married, have children, watch your parents die
Never live your dreams, never spread your wings
And God forbid, you do anything to fly

And the curious thing about all this
Is I'm part of the madness
This little town that I grew up in
Knocks me down and toughens my skin
Everyday I look around me
I see men and women drowning
Did they lose faith in what they were supposed to be--
Or are they just like me?

never got it here, guess I never did
Never fit in here, even as a kid
Here you own a truck and you work real hard
Pick and chose your sides
Build high fences 'round your yard

Here you own a gun, and you own your wife
And you own your children and your childrens' lives
Whatever happened to happy-ever-after the fact
You grew your roots, but did you ever think of that?

And the curious thing about all this
Is I'm part of the madness
This little town that I grew up in
Knocks me down and toughens my skin
Everyday I look around me
I see men and women drowning
Did they lose faith in what they were supposed to be--
Or they just like me?

You can see in my eyes that it's time I go
I'd like to take you with me and show you
A brighter world with a gentle touch
The you inside wouldn't hide so much
You'd learn the rules, you'd climb to the top
You'd learn to be the girl outside the box--
Isn't that what you want?

And the curious thing about all this
Is you're part of the madness
This little town that's clipped your wings
Has boxed you in, 'mongst other things
Everyday you look around
You will see men and women drowning
Did they lose faith in what they were supposed to do
Did they lose faith in what they were supposed to do
Or are they just like you
Forgot what they were supposed to be
Or maybe they're just like me
Forgot what they were supposed to do--
I work with a girl, she wears great big shoes...