5. the man behind the curtain

i wrote this for a friend of mine to sing when she was starting a band

your smile as the band is tuning up

will turn into a frown soon enough

when you realize no one's listening

but i know you'll continue to blather

though you'd prefer to someone rather

than the empty space to which you'll forever sing

 

i close my ears

i hope it's clear

that when you go on and on

i am more than finished

with feeling so diminished

i am moving on and on

 

you're called onstage to perform

your kind words that once were warm

but i see now your truths were oddly bent

you raise high your hand

to strike up the band

but there is no one in your audience

 

i close my ears

and know it's clear

that you're still going on and on

when your blue face is quiet

at last you'll have no one by it's

true we're moving on and on

 

you played me with your instruments

of grand romance and innocence

but that same old song seems stale

i heard a crack break in your voice

and now i have made the choice

to try again where our dreams failed

 

i close my ears

and know it's fear

that keeps you going on and on

i hope you can take it

when you're left isolated

but i'm moving on and on

 

i close my ears, you better open yours soon

i close my ears, quit overplaying your tune

i close my ears, you're still babbling away

i close my ears, it's meant to happen this way

 

yada yada yada

i close my ears and leave you standing here