. Intro: Verse 1: Across from the prison and beside the great lake Below the rooftops and above the highways The spirits pay rental on the basements they haunt And the pages just draw pictures of the things that they want I cook my dinner on the blacktop street I come from the nation of heat Repeat intro during the harmonica part. Verse 2: Outside the train station there's a bold painted sign It says try to be patient don't forget to choose sides We got the loudest explosions you ever heard We got two dollar soldiers and ten dollar words If I didn't own boots I wouldn't need feet I come from the nation of heat Repeat intro again during the harmonica part. Verse 3: So swift and so vicious are the carnival rides And the carnival barker yell your name for a bribe we got billboards for love and Japanese cars It ain't rare to hear the streetlights call themselves stars The more that I learn the more that I cheat I come from the nation of heat Repeat intro during the harmonica part. Verse 4: I've seen skeleton mothers and hungry folks Across the street from the kitchens that cook dinner for most Sometimes you hear whispers by the dark of the moon That we promised too much and gave it too soon Even our coughs and our fevers compete I come from the nation of heat Repeat intro again during the harmonica part. Verse 5: Blockin borders with smiles are immigrant sons we measure loneliness and miles and misery in tons There's a straw-hatted man rowing away from the shore Who says "It's a shame they don't let you have slaves here anymore" I'm the ugliest man that you'll ever meet I come from the nation of heat