One of my favorite Soul Coughing songs makes The Onion A.V. Club’s Fuck this town: 18 kiss-off songs to cities, at #10.
Prophetically, “The Incumbent” was the last song on Soul Coughing’s last album; after the band’s 2000 breakup, Doughty himself left New York for an extended sabbatical in Asia.
New York, New York, I won’t go back / indelible reminder of the steel I lack / I gave you seven years, what did you give me back? / a jaw-grind, disposition to a panic attack
I have no idea what that song is talking about. None. Really.
I was just listening to Soul Coughing - The Incumbent