A Great Big Hole

I awoke stinking like a dead man does with time
Not just from the waste I've strewn around the room
My will resigned, then I let it take to me like vines
I've got explaining to do
And a greenish hue

It's a cold I'll always have
And, god, could I use a sneeze
But the kleenex corporation
Has long lost all its sympathy

To get this low
I had to dig a great big hole
Now, the only way out
Cost me everything I know

This wasn't supposed to be part of the arc of the story
I've learned that spilling your guts will not, in every case, lead to glory
Stubborn as a mule in quicksand, you'll drown
With every two steps forward comes two steps down

This was bound to unravel, that thread just needed a tug
Cause only so much mess can be swept under a rug
Between my "was"es and "am"s, I think I'd still choose the latter
But seriously, speaking of which, just what the hell did I do with that ladder?

I'm a boxer on the ground
Not sure if I should just stay down
I've been here a while, it's not lost on me
That the seats have emptied
And there's no referee
But I swear I still hear a few people rooting for me

To get this low
I had to dig a great big hole
Now, the only way out
Cost me everything I know

I could not lead with such a wound neglected
So my comrades, they've all defected
Now the loss of troops, plus the ground to boot
Leaves me just time to kill and trench to fill

I'm all dried out
My mind's grown fit
I've figured out how to live like this
Fifteen elephants sitting on my chest
Don't feel like much when I'm breathing my best

To get this low
I had to dig a great big hole
Now, the only way out
Cost me everything I know