The Decemberists – Midlist Author lyrics

Came upon a Tuesday when I had just got down to work
And everything went grey
So I took a bus Wednesday, thought a vacation well-deserved
And all my senses frayed

And all my rears sing
Midlist author, you're never the best but you're never the worst
Why even bother?
You'll never come last but you'll never be first
Have another taste of fame when they mispronounce your name
When they mispronounce your name

Went along the seaside among all the dreary vulgar crowd
And a boy cries for his dog
Stolen by a riptide his mother says he surely drowned
As he weeps upon a log

Address your letters to this
Midlist author, you're never the best but you're never the worst
Why even bother?
You'll never come last but you'll never be first
Have another glass of wine and maybe things will be just fine
Things will be just fine

When wandering homeward, check the receiver on the phone
No messages returned
Started up a new thing, something about a sea boy and his dog
And these were the first words

Dedication TK
Midlist author, you're the best but you're never the worst
Why even bother?
You'll never come last but you'll never be first
Maybe novel 22 will make them all remember you