Portland

I met you in Portland with a bottle of wine
and a needle you said wouldn't hurt if I tried it just one time
to ease the pain off of my mind
and settle my troubling ways

As my hands filled my pockets and my friend filled my arm
I picked you up feeling safe, vacant of harm
We went drinking at parties then went drinking at bars
where we'd drink 'till we were drunk then climb into our cars
just to drive to the next bar

You were my favorite friend
The only thing near making sense

It'll keep me warm 
and it'll freeze my bones
Be my shelter from the storms
as it's leaving me alone
It will be my holds 
and it will set me free
There is no fortune or friend or family 
quite as close as my morphine 

I married this waitress from a bar down the road
and she found me a job, I swore I'd let you go
but you were always beside me helping carry my load
ever faithfully murdering me
One time I came home days or hours too late
with a friend in my bloodstream, in an unpresent state
after selling her rings for things I couldn't shake off
some highs are far lower than most

And I swore I'd never use you again
but I'm as loyal as you are, my faithfulest friend

It'll keep me warm 
and it'll freeze my bones
Be my shelter from the storms
as it's leaving me alone
It will be my holds 
and it will set me free
There is no fortune or friend or family 
quite as close as my morphine

From the car where she cried as she cast off from me
with the kids buckled tight in their child's safety seat
through the window she whispered from out in the street
"I hope you learn to love someone as much as your tendencies"

You felt no obligation to warn me these things
are far harder to drop than to hold, so it seems
I traded life and my own family
for what to you was just some night at some college party