it was a devious little plan
thought out by a clever little man
from backstage he pulls our strings
and he keeps us coming back with his pretty little things
as we watch the plays
our eyes glaze

the crowd is so sleepy
we do not notice the dimming light
we are safely shrouded
with no need for foresight
each blink, each double-take
is a momentary glimpse of the rising of the stakes
and it’s all I can do
to keep myself awake to tell this to you

chorus:
they said he was singing on his way to the gallows
hand-cuffed down the hall, he had no choice but to raise his voice in song
are you so pure? So sure?
or are you fading in the blur?

I found myself counting snowflakes
last April Fool’s day
seems there aren’t any decent
jokes left to play
keeping track of things that melt
they are a lot like people and I knew just how they felt
we touch what’s within our reach
before our contract is up or breached

chorus

Bridge: What do you pledge your allegiance to?
Turn back the toxin they feed to you
Look at the “they”, look at the “I”
Are either satisfied?


© 2003, Music and Lyrics by Layah Jane Singer-Wilson