Six Volts

6 Volts and 12 Volts
Couldn’t get it started this morning
The cables were sparking
I had them on backwards
I burned my fingers
I saw you and that guy
When you finally went by
You were smoking cigarettes
And drinking black coffee
And how did I know
How did I know
My clutches are slipping
The carbon gets in my throat and I choke
You get out on the passenger side
I swallow my pride
The radiator’s raging like a murderer
Only God can bend tempered steel
How did I know
How did I know
Straight off the line
Your dress was gun-metal blue
You turned and you waved at a face in the crowd
I burned my fingers
Something choked the life
And it sputtered and died
I crushed my hand on God’s tempered steel
How did I know
How did I know
How did I know
How did I know