Paint by Numbers Songtext
von Self

In my dusty house, in my dirty clothes
Seated in a town on the verge of extinction
Struggling with the tune, alone I compose
A bittersweet ditty ′bout an ex-girlfriend

So why bother with painful memories?
Why tear out my heart for all the world to see?
Why not paint by number, catchy melody?
Burn it up the charts with sweet simplicity
Then do it again

Gotta get away - maybe we should stay
Seated in a town on the verge of explosion
New York and LA, no one listening anyway
Busy predicting the next big thing

So why bother with changing scenery?
Why pack up the car, and move to California?
Why not paint by number, catchy melody?
Playing all the parts in deadly harmony
And do it again


Put the keys into the car, put the car into drive
You can take us to the moon, take us for a ride

In his dusty house, in his dirty clothes
Seated in a town overrun by tourists
Struggling with the tune, so alone he composes
A bittersweet ditty, in the third person

So why star in your fictional stories?
Why try to deny? You're criminal and thieves
Go ′head, paint by number; phony, fake IDs
Burn it up the charts with sweet simplicity
Then do it again

Put the keys into the car, put the car into drive
You can take us to the moon, take us for a ride
Put the keys into the car, put the car into drive
You can take us to the moon, take us for a ride
Put the keys into the car, put the car into drive
You can take us to the moon, take us for a ride
Put the keys into the car, (put the car into drive)
Put the car into drive, (take us for a ride)
You can take us to the moon, take us for a ride