Vaudeville

I’ve seen me that traveling band, for that love they bled

I’ve seen me that rider, of crimson and lead

I’ve seen that iron horse, rolling the plains

Seen a man cross in it’s way, and never again

Behold the great picture show, the immortal dance

Our heroes are all killers - and it’s gold they romance

I’ll be that masked man a glory to see

I’ll kill me a hundred men, so you’ll remember me

All parts have been played on the stage

The raucous, faux-elegant wake

The gunfighters dancing in circles

Seduced by the fear they create

Chaos in black and white!

Cheers erupt as another man falls

In each young man’s eye, a fire is lit

He too could be the most savage of all

I wait for the show to come back

Holding out, to see that magic once again

I wait, while the water comes down

Will I ever see the end?

I see them, nights - in my dreams

The riders of crimson and lead

They turn their rifles on me -

Please sing my song when I’m dead

Where is the dream?

Where is the world that was promised?

Where is romance?

When did it give way to rape?

Who wears the masks?

Who do the gunslingers ride for?

Where is the dream?

Bleeding, discarded, thrown from the tracks

Where is the dream??