Neko Case

Thrice All American

Neko Case


I want to tell you about my hometown 
It's a dusty old jewel in the South Puget Sound 
Well the factories churn and the timbers all cut down 
And life goes by slow in Tacoma 

People they laugh when they hear you're from my town 
They say it's a sour and used up all place 
I defended its honor, shrugged off the put downs 
You know that you're poor, from Tacoma 

Buildings are empty like ghettos or ghost-towns 
It gives me a chill to think what was inside 
I can't seem to fathom the dark of my history 
I invented my own in Tacoma 

There was nothing to put me in love with the good life 
I'm in league with the the gangs guns, and the crime 
There was no hollow promise that life would reward you 
There was nowhere to hide in Tacoma 

People who built it they loved it like I do 
There was hope in the trainyard of something inspired 
Once was I on it, but it's been painted shut 
I found passion for life in Tacoma 

Well I don't make it home much, I sadly neglect you 
But that's how you like it away from the world 
God bless California, make way for the Wal-Mart 
I hope they don't find you Tacoma