[Intro]
D F C D x2
[Verse]
D F C D
I have this new tattoo of which the story must be told
D F C D
About the night I almost overdosed ten years ago
D F C D
I woke up in the hospital with skin clammy and cold
D F C D
And tubes in my urethra, down my throat, and up my nose
D F C D
My friends and the doctors were all shocked I wasn’t dead
D F C D
That’s when Katrina looked at me and this is what she said
[Chorus]
D F C D
Walk like thunder
D F C D
Walk like thunder
D F C D
Walk like thunder
D F C D
Walk like thunder
[Verse]
D F C D
So I walked to the rebel spot, I walked all over uptown
D F C D
I walked right side up and I walked upside down
D F C D
I walked to Chetzemoka with my eyes fixed on the ground yeah
D F C D
We walked all over Chetze Beach and kept the rocks we found
[Verse]
D F C D
Then I walked back to my parents’ house, I walked back to my old bed yeah
D F C D
I walked back and I walked fast past all the voices in my head
D F C D
I walked with the sweats and I walked with the chills
D F C D
I walked in New York City and I walked in Bedford Hills
[Verse]
D F C D
I walked into open mic nights and I walked into the rooms
D F C D
I walked feeling optimistic and I walked feeling doomed
D F C D
I walked with some mama’s boys and I walked with some punks
D F C D
I walked dressed up like a rabbit, I walked dressed up like a skunk
[Verse]
D F C D
I walked with some givers and I walked with some leeches
D F C D
I walked all by myself and I walked with the Moldy Peaches
D F C D
I walked all over the world so I could sing my songs to you
D F C D
And to your most desperate emails I said, “This is what I do.”
[Chorus]
D F C D
I Walk like thunder
D F C D
Walk like thunder
D F C D
Walk like thunder
D F C D
Walk like thunder
[Verse]
D F C D
But at some point I got so comfortable
D F C D
That I didn’t even realize that I’d started to crawl
D F C D
Then my old friend Ammi died at 37 of a heart attack
D F C D
And I cracked cause people my age are not supposed to die like that
D F C D
No no no no people my age are not supposed to die like that
[Verse]
D F C D
He was the old manager of the sidewalk café
D F C D
That place was a second home to me, it’s where I learned to play
D F C D
And his personality really helped create a space
D F C D
Where a bunch of honest misfits could all gather and feel safe
[Verse]
D F C D
He was a cynic, a supporter, he was crazy, he was queer
D F C D
He’d either yell out, “Cut the bullshit” or he’d say, “I’m glad you’re here.”
D F C D
And it was always such an honour to have Ammi on my side
D F C D
That’s why it hit me like a Mack truck when I found out that he died
D F C D
Yeah, it hit me like a Mack truck when I found that he died
[Verse]
D F C D
Then enter Alex, 33 years old and so sick with the cancer
D F C D
And trapped inside a body that betrayed his real gender
D F C D
We all hoped and prayed that he would go into remission
D F C D
At least long enough, just long enough to complete his transition
D F C D
He said, “Kimya, did you know Eleventeen’s my favourite song?”
D F C D
I said, “Then get your ass on stage right now and you can sing along.”
[Verse]
D F C D
That’s the very first song I ever wrote all by myself
D F C D
It’s about angels and recovery and friends and hope and health
D F C D
By the time we finished singing he was pissed off, he was scared
D F C D
He said, “I lost my home, my lover, my insurance, and my hair.
D F C D
And now I’m about to lose you too, my new friend.”
D F C D
I looked into those big blue eyes and said we’ll meet again
D F C D
Yeah I looked into his sad blue eyes and said we’ll meet again
[Verse]
D F C D
Then I got the phone call from Alyssa and she told me he was dying
D F C D
By the time I got to his bedside we were both already flying
D F C D
We held hands and we sang songs, tried to be strong floated around
D F C D
While I cursed the skin that he was in for all the ways it had let him down
D F C D
Yeah I cursed the skin that he was in for all the ways it had let him down
[Verse]
D F C D
But at the same time I was taking my own body for granted
D F C D
First I lost sight of my feet then they became unplanted
D F C D
And I never felt so stupid or so selfish or so sad yeah
D F C D
My body had been good to me and I treated it so bad yeah
D F C D
My body had been good to me and I treated it so bad
[Verse]
D F C D
Then he said, “Mama, I don’t want my friends to watch me die.”
D F C D
So I kissed his cheek, made him a shirt, and then I said goodbye
D F C D
And they cremated him in the shirt that I drew
D F C D
Of the two of us that said they’re flying over you too
D F C D
Now the silver pink ponies have my homie in their crew
D F C D
So I tightened up my laces and knew what I had to do
[Outro]
D F C D
I started walking again
D F C D
I started walking again, I miss my friends
D F C D
I started walking again
D F C D
I started walking again, I miss my friends
D F C D
Walk like thunder
