I've seen a lot of people die.

Keep them comfortable

Tip your hat as you see them out the door

Then convince the family it had some sort of meaning.

I hate that sorely-needed lie.

I've seen a lot of people die.

When they're ready, send them all out

Close the door and bow to the empty shell

Say, "You did real good, Eugene", or "You did good, Marge"

Jesus Christ, now I'm lying to a corpse

How fake am I?

I've seen a lot of people die.

Then with the water, wash the stink away

Make them look peaceful, instead of like meat

Then bring them back in

And once more the lie

I've seen a lot of people die.

Go home to search for something real

But that face always comes up

(They look so much alike!)

Mouth wide open, tongue all dry

That soft, anticlimactic sigh

"Get out! You're dead!"

Sometimes I cry.

I've seen so many people die.