Here I am, hardly breathing in at all 
I cough when I can and that's about all 
I am this man and though I turn the tape 
To a happier song, my face can't find a smile 
because it's been looking too long 

You arrive like a locust swarn 
You devastated me and now when you leave the room 
My heart, head, hands and all forms 
go from red hot blood to bone dry and lukewarm 
You're the sticks and stones, girl 
You're the fire and flames 
I might be half-dead and half-born girl 
but whales start singing when I hear your name. 

I'm heaped with hate like acid rain, nothing can 
restrain the loathing and disgust I have and 
there is no one I distrust more than the happy 
whores who buy and trade, crawling on all fours 
backwards into holes and fires that wealth and 
self-congratulations made 

You're the sticks and stones, girl 
You're the fire and flames 
you're the punishment, the pleasure 
the employment and the leisure 
You're the sweet conversation and the cutting names 

Heart, head, hands and all forms 
went from red hot blood to bone dry and lukewarn 
Whales stopped singng and the ships were bringing in 
Toadstools and moss instead of sugarbeet and corn 
And all the girls in the world were distorted and deformed 
when the first leech was let loose 
and my jealousy was born. 

You're the sticks and stones girl 
You're the fire and flames