Diminishing Returns (Origin Story)

The king of the swinging moods is back in town
And everybody's tiptoeing around him as he
Pounds a silver hammer, drops
Revolutionary grammar
Concerning the burning
Of City Hall and urban sprawl and decay

(So long)
Farewell to the days
Of having it both ways
(So long)
Hell is other people, and some people never learn
When optimism fails and my cooler head prevails
I will meet you at the point of diminishing returns
Diminishing returns, oh!

Down in the abstract
Looking for a concrete artifact
Something you can hold, not one more thing to believe in
Stuck in a fallback, and fighting off a heart attack
And you're so tangible, like a nitroglycerin tablet
Under my tongue

(So long)
Farewell to the days
Of having it both ways
(So long)
The boon's a bust-out, but thanks for your concern
When pessimism fails and my cooler prevails
I will meet you at the point of diminishing returns

Ah, ah ah ah ah, ah
Ah, ah ah, ah
Ah, ah ah, ah ah ah

(So long)
Progress is defined by your position on the bridge
(So long)
As it burns
When populism, activism, urbanism fail
My cooler head will prevail
When there are no more gods to annoy
No more noses to bend out of joint
I will meet you at the point of diminishing returns