Secret Spy Decoder Ring

Cowboy Junkies
Peering underneath the hedge
At my walkie-talkie on the ledge
Of the open kitchen window frame
Of the trusting Mrs. Paine
She's taken Russians in
A wife and two small kids
Marina, Rachel, June
Their smirking daddy when there's room
And now I'm off to history
And I got a front row seat
My Secret Spy Decoder Ring
Says, "Junior, follow me.
Fate is filing up her plate,
The paper route can wait."
I let the dailies stack un-thrown
This mystery's bigger than what's known
The petty events of this world
Yellow on the drive
Until Thursday night at five
When "O.H. Lee" arrives
I sneak out in camouflage
And that night in the garage
A naked bulb illuminates
Sifting through the broken crates
Butcher paper in his teeth
The mousy ex-marine
Lifts from a blanket roll
A rifle with a scope
I caught my breath
As he clumsily drew the bolt action back
He was staring down the barrel right at me
Right at me!
Chased across the road
I burst into the kitchen of the cop next door
But he hardly looked up from his whisky neat, I shouted, "Come and see!"
Break
The cop said, "What's that thing?
Is that a Secret Spy Decoder Ring?
Are those x-ray glasses hanging from your ears? Don't you fear.
Your imagination's wild
I got a motorcade to ride in, in just a few hours
You remind me of my daughter, God bless her soul
Now, get on home"¦"
The cop got on his motorbike
Waved to the gunman at first light
Walking out of Mrs. Paine's front door
Package underneath his arm
"What you bringin' to work' Lee?"
"Curtain rods," he said and winked at me
The morning paper hit the drive
"TODAY THE PRESIDENT ARRIVES"
Now, I'm off to misery
A kid not to be believed
My secret spy decoder ring
Is wryly mocking me:
"You could save his life
If you were old enough to drive"¦
If you were old enough to drive"¦
If you were old enough to drive"¦"
If I was old enough to drive"¦