would you believe they're back to back?

I'm in los angeles today
it smells like an airport runway jet fuel stench is in the cabin
and lights flickering at random
I'm in los angeles today
garbage cans comprise the medians of freeways always creeping
even when the population's sleeping
and I can't see why you'd want to live here.
I'm in los angeles today
asked a gas station employee if he ever had trouble breathing
and he said "it varies from season to season, kid"
it's where our best are on display
motion picture actors' houses maps are never ever current
so save your film and fifteen dollars
and I can't see why you want to live here
billboards reach past the tallest buildings
we are not perfect, but we sure try
cause UV rays degrade our youth with time

the vessel keeps pumping us though this entropic place
in the belly of the beast that is californ-i-a
I drank from a faucet and I kept my receipt
for when they weigh me on the way out
here nothing is free
but the greyhounds keep coming dumping locusts into the streets
til the gutters overflow and los angeles thinks
I might explode someday soon

and it's a lovely summer's day
I can almost see a sky line through a thickening shroud of egos
is this the city of angels or demons?
And here the names are what remain
stars encapsulate the golden name
and they need constant cleaning
from when the tourists begin salivating
and I can't see why you'd want to live here
billboards reach past the tallest buildings
you can't swim in a town this shallow
as you will assuredly drown tomorrow.