DEAR OLD HOUSE THAT I GREW UP IN, I KNOW THEY’RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU ANY DAY. DEAR OLD HOUSE THAT I GREW UP IN, CAN’T YOU FIND A WAY TO MAKE THEM STAY?
AND WHILE THE GIRLS I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH WENT DOWNTOWN WITH ALL THE COOL KIDS / I WAS STAKED OUT IN YOUR CELLAR MAKING FRIENDS WITH DEAD UMBRELLAS / AND THE CREAKS OF EVERY FLOORBOARD / TELL THE STORY OF THE GIRL I STUCK INSIDE / AND IF THEY MOVE AWAY I’LL HAVE NO PLACE TO HIDE.
DEAR OLD HOUSE THAT I GREW UP IN, I HAVE NEVER REALLY BEEN IN LOVE. YOU TOOK ME HEART WHEN I WAS A CHILD / AND YOUR NOISES WRAPPED AROUND MY LITTLE BODY / LIKE A WINTER GLOVE / YOU’RE JUST A RANDOM SET OF OBJECTS / IN A TOWN THAT’S FULL OF SADNESS / IN THE ARMPIT OF THE WORLD / YOU’RE CHIPPED-DOWN TREES IN ROTTING SOIL
AND IF I WANTED TO I’D KEEP YOU / AND I’D FILL YOU UP AND HEAT YOU / “WITH THE MARKET HOW IT IS, AMANDA, / WELL, YOU KNOW THE PRICE OF OIL…”
GOODNIGHT STAIRS AND GOODNIGHT STARS / ON PAINTED CLOSET WALL / ATTIC DOOR AND BANISTER I’LL MISS YOU MOST OF ALL / I WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP YOU SAFE / THIS WASN’T SUPPOSED TO END / DOES IT SOUND RIDICULOUS TO CALL YOU MY BEST FRIEND
DEAR OLD HOUSE THAT I GREW UP IN / I KNOW I HAVEN’T VISITED THAT MUCH / BUT EVERY LIFELESS HOTEL AND APARTMENT / I WALK INTO JUST REMINDS ME OF THE DOORKNOBS THAT I WANT TO TOUCH
AND I WON’T MISS YOU WHEN THEY SELL YOU TO SOME EVIL YUPPIE COUPLE / WITH A CHILD WHO’LL PUT MILEY CYRUS POSTERS IN MY BEDROOM / I AM A NATIVE OF THE GLOBE / I AM A ROCK STAR ON THE ROAD / I AM NOW CENTRALLY LOCATED / ANYWHERE THAT I AM KNOWN / BUT IT DOESN’T FEEL LIKE ANYWHERE / WHEN YOU CAN’T GO BACK HOME…
DEAR OLD HOUSE THAT I GREW UP IN, I KNOW IT ISN’T YOUR FAULT THIS WENT DOWN / SO PLEASE DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY

LOVE, AMANDA

P.S. TELL THE EVIL YUPPIE COUPLE: WHEN I’M RICH… I’LL BUY THEM OUT