Ground Level

Ground Level
Album	Jenny from Thebes
Released	October 27, 2023
Length	2:22
Previous Track	"Clean Slate"
Next Track	"Only One Way"

Ground Level is the second song on Jenny from Thebes. On the back cover of the vinyl edition, this song is subtitled "There was, en route to greener pastures, a small house in the city."

Lyrics

You can make out all the exits
From a static position
One quick walkaround will give you
All the relevant information
Never going to break my neck
Falling downstairs
Tan and mustard-yellow I-beam
Visible from the air

Tall space heater
Down the main hallway
Blue pilot light
Hissing all night

We sleep light in the shadow of the cloverleaf

You can light a cigarette
Against the cooktop if you need to
Feel the heat against your forehead
Let it bleed through
You're never going to get by
On three hours' sleep a night
Unless you absolutely have to
And then you get by all right

Move in silence
If you can't stay still
Nobody sees your face
Through the security grille

We sleep light in the shadow of the cloverleaf

Comments by John Darnielle About this Song

• "it was originally called "SW Ranch" but everybody hates my "here, a title that's really more of a place marker" titles" -- Twitter