white faced phantoms in a foggy rain minnows in the pool the way they slip away and i go fumbling go run again to repossess the story of my youth the story of my electric past are we running after flickering sparks oh are we grappling for diamonds in the dark oh the way we chase that mercury the way we chase that mercury loud like lions and as slick as wolves desperately we hunt the other animals but in the end if all we are is dogs out back chasing cars then pray that we don t get the things we want are we running after flickering sparks oh are we grappling for diamonds in the dark oh the way we chase that mercury the way we chase that mercury oh another pound of flesh offer it up to the gods of american success but no matter what you are you re only second best and it s all that you can ever hope to be the way you chase that mercury oh fragile frames fumble in the mystery afraid to be exposed while we pretend to be something more than what we are fools in love with punch drunk hearts mystified by everything we see  are we running after flickering sparks oh are we grappling for diamonds in the dark oh the way we chase that mercury the way we chase that mercury oh oh the way we chase that mercury the way we chase that mercury oh another pound of flesh offer it up to the gods of american success but no matter who you are you re only second best and it s all that you can ever hope to be the way you chase that mercury oh the way you chase that mercury there must be more to this our desperate wandering how do we put to rest all of our discontent beneath the shadows of all that we think we want is there a light we can t see there must be more to this our desperate wandering how do we put to rest all of our discontent beneath the shadows of all that we think we want is there a light we can t see the way you chase that mercury