Story Behind The Song

I was born in Omaha, I'm getting old -- just like the narrator. I've dealt with addiction and longing. I know how addiction and love can get conflated. To me, this song pulls together a number of deep desires and influences.

Song Description

This is a song of sadness and hope, letting go and moving on. The narrator is a drug addict and his lover, also a drug addict, has gone to get clean. The narrator sings about Omaha, a city from his past, where he can buy "the best dope in the world" and where he can also "get clean." Addiction, drugs, a locale, a lost love and a. vague hope stacked up against a consuming drive for the past and getting clean intermix in this song.

Lyrics

I don't drink with my old friends anymore, I do my drinking alone
I don't have many old friends anyway, they're all dead or drinking on their own
But when you stopped -- coming around
Oh that cut me to the bone
I'm going back to Omaha to the Parlez-Vous Bar
I'm going back to Omaha
Where you can buy the best dope in the world no matter who you are
I know habits die hard when they're old, habits die hard when they're new
I would never insult you at all comparing a habit to you
But when you stopped -- coming around
Oh I knew I was through
I'm going back to Omaha where we were born and almost raised
I'm gonna die in Omaha
So you can come and see me when you're old in my resting place
I never been very lucky in love, I thought that changed when I met you
I should have guessed I rolled snake eyes at best still I kept all my bets on you
And then you stopped--coming around
Oh like I could just forget you
I'm going back to Omaha, maybe I'll get clean too
I'm going back to Omaha
Cause that would be the only thing I -- I got left to do