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.