Vape! (Lights out!) Pawn! (Lights out!)
Check-cash! (Lights out!) Tattoo! (Lights out!)
Strip mall gothic, neon through the rain
Shopping cart chase and the kudzu's in the lane
Every empty storefront's got a story and a ghost
Every parking space is mine and I'm the one who owns the most! (Hey!)

Midnight at the plaza and a developer's in a suit
Briefcase full of papers and a smile that's way too cute
Wants to buy the lot for a dollar and a lie
Wants to turn the Piggly Wiggly into condos in the sky
I said, "Sir, this lot's got a deed and a grave"
He bolted through the Dollar General like a rabbit on a wave
I hop on a shopping cart, one foot on the bar
Pushing off the curb like a drag-strip star
Past the pawn shop window with the pistols in a row
Past the check-cashing sign that's blinking "Go! Go! Go!"
He drops his briefcase by the vape shop door
I run it over twice, and I'm coming back for more
Dumpster fire in the corner, sirens in the air
Three (three!), two (two!)
One...
Lights out!

Vape! (Lights out!) Pawn! (Lights out!)
Check-cash! (Lights out!) Tattoo! (Lights out!)
Strobe light on the sign at the empty dollar store
Ghost of Black Friday's knocking at the door
Cart in the air, cart off the curb
Developer's in a dumpster, and he's crying, "Absurd!" (Ha!)

He climbs the dumpster, and he's calling for his mom
I'm at the bottom with the deed, and I'm calm
Pawn shop owner's watching with a bag of popcorn
Tattoo guy's recording, and the vape guy's torn
Lawyer's on the phone, saying, "Don't sign a thing!"
I signed his briefcase with a cart and a swing
Sunrise hits the plaza, and the dumpster starts to steam
Developer's still sitting there like a bad dream
County sold the lot to me for a dollar years ago
Deed's in my glovebox, folded like a bow
Gothic ain't a style, it's a Tuesday in the South
Future's boarded up, and the past runs its mouth
Sixty-two vacancies and I own the dark!
Pawn shop, check-cashing, and a tattoo shop for a spark!

Lights out!

Vape! (Lights out!) Pawn! (Lights out!)
Check-cash! (Lights out!) Tattoo! (Lights out!)
Strip mall gothic, neon through the rain
Old Piggly Wiggly's got the kudzu in its vein
Every empty storefront's got a throne in the back
Parking lot's the kingdom, and I'm taking it back! (Hey!)

Lights out!