Hey, I hear the voice of a preacher from the back room
Calling my name and I follow just to find you
I trace the faith to a broken down television, and put on the weather
And I’ve trained myself to give up on the past ’cause
I froze in time between hearses and caskets
Lost control when I panicked at the acid test
I wanna get better

While my friends were getting high and chasing girls down parkway lines
I was losing my mind because the love, the love, the love, the love, the love
That I gave wasted on a nice face
In a blaze of fear I put a helmet on a helmet
Counting seconds through the night and got carried away

So now I’m standing on the overpass screaming at the cars
“Hey, I wanna get better!”

I didn’t know I was lonely ’til I saw your face
I wanna get better, better, better, better
I wanna get better
I didn’t know I was broken ’til I wanted to change
I wanna get better, better, better, better
I wanna get better

I go up to my room and there’s girls on the ceiling
Cut out their pictures and I chase that feeling
Of an eighteen year old who didn’t know what loss was
Now I’m a stranger
And I miss the days of a life still permanent
Mourn the years before I got carried away

So now I’m staring at the interstate screaming at myself
“Hey, I wanna get better!”

I didn’t know I was lonely ’til I saw your face
I wanna get better, better, better, better
I wanna get better
I didn’t know I was broken ’til i wanted to change
I wanna get better, better, better, better
I wanna get better

‘Cause I’m sleeping in the back of a taxi
I’m screaming from my bedroom window
Even if it’s gonna kill me

Woke up this morning early before my family
From this dream where she was trying to show me
How a life can move from the darkness
She said to get better
So I put a bullet where I shoulda put a helmet
And I crash my car ’cause I wanna get carried away

That’s why I’m standing on the overpass screaming at myself
“Hey, I wanna get better!”

I didn’t know I was lonely ’til I saw your face
I wanna get better, better, better, better
I wanna get better
I didn’t know I was broken ’til I wanted to change
I wanna get better, better, better, better
I wanna get better

Nothing is so good it lasts eternally
Perfect situations must go wrong
But this has never yet prevented me
Wanting far too much for far too long

Looking back, I could have played it differently
Won a few more moments, who can tell?
But it took time to understand the man
Now, at least, I know I know him well

Wasn’t it good?
(Oh so good)
Wasn’t he fine?
(Oh so fine)
Isn’t it madness?
He can’t be mine
But in the end he needs a little bit more than me
More security
(He needs his fantasies and freedom)
I know him so well

No one in your life is with you constantly
No one is completely on your side
And though I move my world to be with him
Still the gap between us is too wide

Looking back I could have played it differently
Learned about the man before I fell
But I was ever so much younger then
Now, at least, I know I know him well

(overlapping above)
Looking back, I could have played it some other way
I was just a little careless, maybe
I was so much younger then
I know I know him well

Wasn’t it good?
(Oh so good)
Wasn’t he fine?
(Oh so fine)
Isn’t it madness?
He can’t be mine
Didn’t I know how it would go?
If I knew from the start,
Why am I falling apart?

Wasn’t it good?
Wasn’t he fine?
Isn’t it madness?
He won’t be mine
But in the end he needs a little bit more than me
More security
(He needs his fantasy and freedom)
I know him so well
It took time to understand him
I know him so well

From the musical “Chess”; original recording by Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson

In the picture, you’re right beside me
Arms around my neck and eyes like you’ll never leave
A love lover, a sweet thing
I know we agreed but I think I’ll call you anyway, uh-huh

Well hello it’s just me
A little distance and I lost something in between
I’ve waited forever
For this to get better
You said “why should I believe in something
I can’t see or feel with my fingers?
Yeah why should I believe?”

And I said:
“Anytime you think you wanna be my love
That’s a reason, do what you’re thinking of
Anytime you think you wanna come on over
Stop asking, get in the car and drive
Stop asking, get in the car and drive”

We hold on, take it slowly
Breathing deep and meaning every word for just you only
Keep this inside of you, no matter what you do
These are the simple things in loving you
The simple things in loving you

And you said “how can I believe in something
When you’re never here? I’m not even sure I need this.
How can I believe?”

And I said:
“Anytime you think you wanna be my love
That’s a reason, do what you’re thinking of
Anytime you think you wanna come on over
Stop asking, get in the car and drive
Stop asking, get in the car and drive”

I’ve waited forever
For this to get better
And you said “why should I believe in something
I can’t see or feel with my fingers?
Yeah why should I believe?”

And I said:
“Anytime you think you wanna be my love
That’s a reason, do what you’re thinking of
Anytime you think you wanna come on over
Stop asking, get in the car and drive
Stop asking, get in the car and drive
Stop asking, get in the car and drive
Get in the car and drive”