they shot the tiger on his chain
in a field behind the cages
he walked in circles til he was crazy
and he lived that way forever
and he lived that way beside them
separate from the other tigers
he did not know another tiger

they shot the tiger on his chain
in a field behind the cages
he walked in circles til he was crazy
and he lived that way forever
and he lived that way forever
just as long as he could remember
if he'd wanted to remember

it was the last time he had felt alive
when he saw that brown-haired lady
she fed him with a bottle as a baby
and he recalled her face and smile
they shot that tiger on his chain

they shot the tiger on his chain
they shot the tiger on his chain
they shot the tiger on his chain
they shot the tiger on his chain