Johnny Mathis' Feet

I lay all my songs at Johnny Mathis' feet

I said, "Johnny tell me

Can you tell me how to live?

All my hopes are unraveling and I just lost my lease

On my house without love, doors, or windows

Without peace."

And with a wave of his jewel-encrusted hand

Across the glittering Las Vegas scene he said,

"You gotta learn how to disappear in the silk and amphetamine."

Johnny looked at my songs and he said,

"Well at first guess, never in my life

Have I ever seen such a mess.

Why do you say everything as if you were a thief?

Like what you've stolen has no value

Like what you preach is far from belief?"

And with a wave of his red white and blue hand

Across the glittering Hollywood scene he said,

"You gotta learn how to disappear in the silk and amphetamine."

Johnny looked at my old collection of punk rock posters

Anonymous scenes of disaffection choas and torture

And he said, "You were on the right track

But you're a lamb jumping for the knife."

He said, "A real showman knows how

to disappear in the spotlight."