Conor Oberst

Desert Island Questionnaire

Conor Oberst


Say that you were stranded on a desert island
What books you gonna bring
What friends would tag along

Say you had a month and you knew you were dying
How would you spend your time
What goodbyes would take too long

You don't like this game and you take exception
Who wants all this trouble even hypothetical
With the charging sky above
And the ground below that could swallow everyone

Staring at your phone at another party
Spend a lot on clothes
Got a lot of skin to show

People in the pool like the drowning army
Smoke along the moats
And the hotel lobby glows

Wish that you can dance but you've got no partner
Keep tapping on your glass
Because you want to make a toast

To the ennui of our times
To the selfishness in everyone you know

Made a lot of friends but they can't be trusted
Don't know what their angle is
Post up at the bar and I'm double fisted
Talking to a mannequin

I don't know what it means when he takes my pulse
And says that I'm a lot like him
I say that's fair enough
That's why I'm trying to loosen up

Every lunatic must be well intentioned
Sets himself apart
He's an instrument of God

Took her from the playground to the farmhouse cellar
Kissed her while he killed her
Like a good Samaritan

They finally found her body many Autumns after
Interviewed her mother who said she'd now be 21
And although we lost her young
I know the good lord has a plan for all of us

Mormons at the door they are clean and handsome
Always have a good sales pitch
Your little sisters swears that she can take my order
But I can't take her serious

Need something to bring for this human nature
Is not what this condition is
I'm so bored with my life but I'm still afraid to die

Everyone's asleep in this burning building
And I can't wake them up in time
You go on ahead I'll be right behind you
I'm headed to the finish line

I can't ignore the Sun until this is over

Pretend that you were stranded on a desert island
What would be the message
That you'd spell out for the plane

Say the engine failed when that plane was flying
If you were the pilot
Would you curse or would you pray

No one's gonna cry at this John Doe funeral
Not a lot to say did it even have a name

Light a candle just in case he was someone's friend
Throw some flowers on the grave