ROULETTE

Outtake version 1

We left the toys out in the yard
I took my wife and kids, and I left my home unguarded
We packed what we could into the car
No one here knows how it started
Suddenly everything was just so out of control
Now I need want answers, mister, I need to know
I hear all the talk but I don't know what you're sayin'
But I think I got a good idea of the game that you're playin'

Roulette, that's the name now
Roulette, that's the game now
Roulette, I don't believe what they're sayin'
Roulette, and everybody's playin'

I grew up here on this street where nothin' moves, just a strange breeze
A town full of worthless memories
This shadow in my backyard
I've got a house full of things that I can't touch
Well all those things they won't do me much good now

I was a fireman out at Riker's, I did my job
Mister, I've been cheated, I feel like I've been robbed
I'm the big expendable, my life's just cancelled, null and void
But what are you gonna do about your new boy

Roulette, you're playin' with my life
Roulette, with my kids and my wife
Roulette, every day the stakes get bigger
Roulette, a different finger on the trigger

Down by the river that talks the night speaks in searchlights
And shortwave radio squawk, and the police patrol the streets
But I've left behind the man I used to be
Everything he believed and all that belonged to me
I tried to find my way out to somewhere where I thought 'd be safe
But they stopped me at the roadblock, they blocked off the interstate
They put me in a detention but I broke loose and then I ran
They said they just wanted to ask me a few questions but I think they had other plans
I don't know who to trust and I don't know what I can believe
T They say they wanna help me with the stuff, they keep on sayin
I think those guys just wanna keep on playin'

Roulette, with my life
Roulette, my kids and my wife
Roulette, bullet's in the chamber
Roulette, who's the unlucky stranger
Roulette, surprise, you're dead
Roulette, the gun's to your head
Roulette, the bullet's spinning in the chamber
Roulette, pull the trigger, feel the click
No further danger

One of the many outtake versions of ROULETTE that were recorded between Apr 1979 and Aug 1980 at The Power Station, New York City. Check also the Tracks version, outtake version 2, outtake version 3, outtake version 4, and live 1988 version.