You gotta pay through the nose for garbage removal
it's a necessary evil
the project's on hold for outside approval
it's a necessary evil
the jingle in my pocket's gone
I'm not gonna put you on
we left the debris all over the lawn
it's a necessary evil

The neighbor's amassed a small arsenal 
it's a necessary evil
he insists it's nothing personal
it's a necessary evil
the kid feels almost safe in school
metal detectors, police in the hall
make her a little uncomfortable
it's a necessary evil

It was different when you grew up
buy only in degree
werewolves and vampires in the movies
you couldn't wait to see
the shadow knows what evil lurks
it says so on TV
at first it seems so far away
then it all comes back to me

In the driveway there's a truckload of oil
it's a necessary evil
leftovers are rotting in aluminum foil
it's a necessary evil
my finger's so deep in the pie
it didn't help to stick it in my eye
from the inside we'll change things by and by
it's a necessary evil

It was different when you grew up
buy only in degree
werewolves and vampires in the movies
you couldn't wait to see
the shadow knows what evil lurks
it says so on TV
at first it seems so far away
then it all comes back to me
then it all comes back