Shadow In The Shade

You were the brightest star the night sky ever displayed

But in the early morning light you started to fade

You had a revolutionary vision of breaking down the barricades

But because you lacked the wisdom your dreams were all betrayed

Wise men gave their counsel but the truth you did evade

You never heeded any of them, you murdered anyway

You thought you were the biggest

Alligator that ever cruised the Everglades

But oh, now you're just a shadow in the shade

So you left your small pool far behind

But now you wish that you had stayed

The big fish in this ocean have got you feeling so afraid

Still you climbed on up the ladder, you thought you had it made

But your confidence was shattered by the song that a dreamer played

Your hand full of bloody diamonds and

Your heart full of clubs and spades

You gambled with poor people's lives

Now to your conscience you must wage

Dogs bark their warnings and even donkeys bray

Oh now, you're just a shadow in the shade

Oh, you're just a shadow in the shade

But it's you they'll be looking for in the heat of the day

Oh, you're just a shadow in the shade

But it's you they'll be looking for in the heat of the day

Yeah, you had a little revelation and so you went on your crusade

But you were preaching to the converted, there was no one to persuade

Like the fool that struts and frets his hour upon the stage

You gave your best performance but no one follows your parade

To be back where you were now you'd give

It all, your gold, your pearls, your jade

But nobody wants to take that fall, there is no one willing to trade

Little children see right through you and they know it's all a charade

Oh man, you're just a shadow in the shade

Oh, you're just a shadow in the shade

But it's you they'll be looking for in the heat of the day

Oh, you're just a shadow in the shade

But it's you they'll be looking for in the heat of the day

Well, you got your wake up call but it was a little too late

You thought you had a handle on it

All when you were holding on the blade

Even so you just kept on working, trying to earn an honest wage

But they raised the price of everything on the day that you got paid

When at last salvation found you so worn out and dismayed

She was the image of perfection in the sunlight well arrayed

She came dancing through the afternoon

You tried to reach out and touch her braids

But oh man, you're just a shadow in the shade

Oh, you're just a shadow in the shade

But it's you they'll be looking for in the heat of the day

Oh, you're just a shadow in the shade

But it's you they'll be looking for in the heat of the day

Oh, you're just a shadow in the shade

But you'll return tonight at the end of the day