my friend gave everything he owns away
my friend says he's happier that way
he says did you ever notice the more you own,
the more worries you have?

i thought about my rent check and my bank account
and couldn't help but understand
he told me that he's going back to santa cruz to live on a boat
without a phone or a thing in his hands
and i'm staying in chicago to work and go to school
and fuck off with my shitty fucking band
and he said: brendan you should try it, it makes you feel so good
brendan you should try it, it makes you feel so good
so i threw away a stereo and some clothes to show i understood
down on the gold coast the people look so happy
money gets you laid, i saw it on tv
a brand new car, vcr a satellite dish
and a 6 pack are just a few parts of this american dream
well my friend had a dream to be free
he made it come true by giving away his tv
yeah my friend had a dream to be free
he made it come true with a backpack and his feet
when i walk along the city streets no one smiles or talks to me
i've seen possessions that run people's lives
everything we own makes us afraid to be friends
sharing used to be natural it'll never be that way again
my friend relearned to be a human being
how to stop and talk to people on the streets
he gave everything he owns away
and lives his dream with a backpack and his feet.