Telescope

He watched the bronco leave the driveway
The day after he turned ten
His dad said the band's booked up through Sunday
Ricky never saw him again
His mother made excuses
His brother got his wish
Ricky just stared at the posters in his bedroom
And started talking to his fish

And whenever he thought he could untie these knots
He didn't get too far

The stronger the telescope
The more stars there are

There were reports within the family
There were rumors at his school
Deadbeat got stuck in Calgary
Cleaning swimming pools
But Ricky had some questions
He couldn't get it through his head
How a father so drunk on his own destiny
Could end up like this instead

The boy could feel himself get older
With each shot in the dark

The stronger the telescope
The more stars there are
The stronger the telescope
The more stars there are

Now Ricky's in a trailer outside Albany
And he spends all his nights alone
With a penchant for conspiracy
And his take home methadone
But he hasn't been forgotten
His hometown speculates
If the world had just got to him too early
Or if it got to him too late

And the more they give each explanation
The more it comes apart

The stronger the telescope
The more stars there are
The stronger the telescope
The more stars there are
The more stars there are
The more stars there are
The more stars there are