Amanda Palmer: Runs In The Family

my friend has problems with winter and autumn
they give him prescriptions, they shine bright lights on him
they say its genetic, they say he cant help it
they say you can catch it - but sometimes youre born with it

my friend has blight he gets shakes in the night
and they say there is no way that they could have caught it in
time takes its toll on him, it is traditional
it is inherited predisposition

all day ive been wondering what is inside of me, who can i blame for it

i say:

it runs in the family, this famine that carries me
to such great lengths to open my legs
up to anyone wholl have me
it runs in the family, i come by it honestly
do what you want cause who knows it might fill me up

my friends depressed, shes a wreck, shes a mess
theyve done all sorts of tests and they guess it has something to do with her grandmothers
grandfathers grandmother civil war soldiers who
badly infected her
my friend has maladies, rickets, and allergies that she dates back to the 17th century
somehow she manages - in her misery - strips in the city
and shares all her best tricks with

me? well, im well. well, i mean im in hell. well, i still have my health
(at least thats what they tell me)
if wellness is this, what in hells name is sickness?
but business is business!

and business
runs in the family, we tend to bruise easily
bad in the blood im telling you cause
i just want you to know me
know me and my family
were wonderful folks but
dont get too close to me cause you might knock me up

mary have mercy now look what ive done
but dont blame me because i cant help where i come from
and running is something that weve always done
well and mostly i cant even tell what im running from

i run from their pity
from responsibility
run from the country
and run from the city

i can run from the law
i can run from myself
i can run for my life
i can run into debt

i can run from it all
i can run till im gone
i can run for the office
and run from the cause

i can run using every last ounce of energy
i cannot
i cannot
i cannot
run from my family
theyre hiding inside me
corpses on ice
come in if youd like
but just dont tell my family
theyd never forgive me
theyll say that im crazy
but they would sign anything if it would
shut me up.....