Reflections of the Marionette

Call the dogs and sound the horns

The city key of where I's born's

Been stolen

By someone I thought I knew

She blew in with some angel dust

From the southern state where love is lust

Yeah, I hope she's gone

By the time this song is through

Out of morn, the passers-by

She wets her lips, sweats her eyes

Baits her tongue with pity for her prey

(Do your best to look away)

And she transcends the avenue

A smile for me, a wink for you

I guess I'll take my place in yesterday

But darlin' I can't wait

For you to leave this town

You just got here too late

And no one wants you 'round

With one foot on my back

And the other on the rail

I don't want to see you fall

I want to see you fail

And the night is sweet, the night's divine

It stains your teeth with blood-red wine

And leaves you lyin'

In your enemy's arms

And while you mumble down the hall

Something 'bout a skin-made wall

You find you're just

A sucker for her charms

And the vanity that cakes her face

Sucks you in to death's embrace

Feel your sense of self just fade away

(Spread you ashes in your grave)

And see you're just a one man show

And once you're done, it's time to go

Hear somebody's footsteps down the way

But darlin' I can't wait

For you to leave this town

You just got here too late

And no one wants you 'round

With one foot on my back

And the other on the rail

I don't want to see you fall

I just want to see you fail

And the youth protests the failing light

With his shirt sleeves rolled in the humid night

He wonders when it was

That he went wrong

And in denial, while he ascends

To a lofty room, all dreams end