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Words from the artist’s archive
Come to Collect lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
Read the lyric sheet
Intro
You hear that? Come to collect...
Verse 1
Sixteen and the summer was mine, golden rope, golden shine Heard a knocking at the door and I hollered, goodnight Turned the trunk up louder so the sound drowned him out Left a letter on my glass, I just laughed, threw it out Spent evenings like the well at the bottom won't show Blew wishes at candles, one mo' summer, one mo' My uncle said he knew him, said he visits us all I said never me, dawg, I'm too quick for that call
Chorus
Come to collect, he don't want your soul Come to collect, can't duck him no more He don't want dollars and he don't want gold He take the sunshine and he leave you ass old Come to collect, he come to collect
Post-chorus
He been outside my window since I was a kid I see him everywhere, cant get rid
Verse 2
Thirty-two and my knees start talking at the park First silver in the waves like a shark fin in the dark Photos on the wall got a glow I can't buy back Mama's voice on the telephone got a shake, I don't like that He slid a receipt underneath the door while I slept Itemized: buddies I lost, phone calls I never kept I paid him in birthdays, I paid him in hairline Paid him every June and he never missed a deadline
Chorus
Come to collect, he don't want your soul Come to collect, can't duck him no more He don't want dollars and he don't want gold He take the sunshine and he leave you ass old Come to collect, he come to collect
Post-chorus
He been outside my window since I was a kid Maybe tomorrow he'll forget this bid
Bridge
I stopped locking the front door at night What's he gonna take that wasn't already leaving, right? The music box in the hall is getting slow Maybe that's just how a song lets you go
Verse 3
So I opened up the door and he wasn't no beast Just a patient man standing with my face, but at peace He said, listen, I don't rob, I only come for what's mine You been renting the sunshine, I'm the man with the sign Now we sit on the porch and we watch the evening fold He collects what he's owed and I keep what I hold Grandkids in the yard running barefoot through the sprinkler He tips his hat at the noise like, now that one's a keeper
Chorus
Come to collect, he don't want your soul Come to collect, I don't duck him no more He don't want dollars, never wanted my gold He took the sunshine but he left me the old Come to collect, he come to collect
Outro
Come to collect...
Inside the recording
You hear that? Come to collect...
Come to collect, he don't want your soul Come to collect, can't duck him no more
Come to collect...
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.