a 1 and a 2

Shit happens in 1's life.

2: That isn't my problem, is it?

1: No, it isn't. But if you could help me out...

2: Look, I've got enough problems of my own to deal with. Your life - your problems. Go fix them.

1: I will, but I just..

2: Well, so long then. It will all get over. It will get better. Don't worry.

1: Will it?

2: What do I care?

1: True. Why am I even having this conversation with you?

2: Search me. You're the 1 who started it. Be gone. Let me be.

And then 1 goes away. Just like that.

A 1 and a 2 and a 1, 2, 3 go -

2 is on the other side, the one that is good,

Happy mornings, sunshine, and plenty of food.

2 has a huge house, and a soft bed where he lies,

His conscience is for sale, and he can't look you in the eye.

2 doesn't care for the other world, 2 doesn't give a damn,

2 sees them in documentaries, shot with handy cams.

2 sees them on his idiot box, flickering in the dark,

2 curled up in his comfy chair, 2 happy as a lark.

2 smiles at their misery, 2 feels so nice and mean,

How beautiful life must be on 2's side of the screen!

2 dozes in his comfy chair, idiot box awake,

2 dreams dreams in his dreamy dreams, 2 swimming in a lake.

A lovely day, a fresh blue sky, a rainbow arch and a swaying tree,

2 is young, 2 alive, 2 is pure, 2 is free,

A little bird perched - on a peach tree,

It asks 2 - "Will you sing with me?"

2 says "Sure, we will all sing together.

I am feeling very happy and light as a feather."

Birdie clears its throat, flutters its little wings,

Prunes to look its best, and then it starts to sing:

"A 2 is a 1 and a 1 is a 2,

Say that you are me, and say that I am you.

A 2 is a 1 and a 1 is a 2,

Say that you are me, and say that I am you."

2 sees a strange look - in the bird's eye,

2 sees 2 question marks, 2 eyes shouting - WHY?

2 feels the water hardening, it's turning into stone,

2 swimming on a pavement, 2 lying all alone,

2 lying in a spotlight, and there is no 1 there,

2 thinks - "I have been here, I have seen this somewhere."

2 sees a shining light - a distant beam in the dark,

A red and a green and a bluish streak, a shiny shiny spark.

The shiny spark on seeing him opens up its arms,

2 embraces the shiny spark, it feels so numb and warm.

2 is in a dimly lit cell, a glass pouring light,

2 peers out of the bars, and sees a frightening sight.

The cell is his idiot box, the world - his dining room,

He sees the 1 he tread upon, on his comfy chair he looms.

2 finds himself back in the lake, and he tries to stay afloat,

But 2 can't swim, and 2 goes down,

Red button, red button,

Remote, remote.

The birdie sings:

A 2 is a 1 and a 1 is a 2,

Now that you are me, why shouldn't I be you?

Stay mean or stay clean.