I once played the fool at a DOOM show Really thought it was him 'cause I stood back a few rows Angry people threw 'bows and crushed a few toes It was like a live production of The Emperor's New Clothes Promoter Rappers book me gigs at new venues You get there and there's just a few menus A fucking employee rocking a grin like a Cheshire Cat And I'm wearing a jester hat Sitting there watching him cut up pepperjack The rap fans on the net are the fucking biggest ones Steady letting babyfaces mark 'em for hit-and-runs A bunch of fool players learning new prayers None of 'em showing you how to be your own soothsaying oracle At least take turns, like a two-player portable Play the mark or play the carney Stay in the dark or host the party Write the play or play in the park like a child, shit I be watching Soul School like an old fool All up in the wrong castle like Mario and Toadstool I'm from the Blowed, fool-it's also a pronoun Bought the deed to some land in a South Pole snow town Ugh, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, I'm lame Cats is nice with the game in this record lane-not! Still I manage to get strung along Once I brung a song to the tabletop and had it flop Wasn't for the lack of opportunity knocking Just a lot of empty promises and halfhearted talking Even paperwork don't seem to hold a lot ofwater Never seeing sales reports or reports of my slaughter in retail land (Huh) I've tried to expand (Huh) Done a lot for the cause but the rebel gets slammed (Slammed) Doors (Doors) never opening after initial work Promoters holdin out on the dough, I'm thinkin this will work Every time I sign on the line, at least try to flex optimism And see the shine I get idle text One of these days I may really wake up But for now they keep foolin 'til my band break up and that's tough I booked the same room as our first date, relieved Finally, no need to lie about working late Nervously pace, looking in the mirror You look great, easily ten years younger, I could be thirty-eight Petals on the duvet I picture her face after years of roses on nightstands When I take her hand And say you could be an honest woman I'll be your man, one finger to her lips Don't say a word yet Champagne on ice I'll take you away from all of this You don't have to put on the red light A single passionate kiss That shows me you had the same knot in your chest From years of wondering "maybe" and "what if" It's not that I don't love my wife and kids, but this is it For happiness, I'm waiting by the window like Malcolm X Courtyard by Marriott, room twenty-six Just as real as I imagined Honeysuckle root all on my mattress I want you forever if you asking Infatuated vision in this blackness Matchstick memory Candlelight, shadow play Unfamiliar energy, welcoming A fortnight since we last connected Confessions Otherworldly pleasures in your presence Possess me, these sessions in succession By the moon exhausted Drain me baby, awesome Climax cumulus, union of like mind Sidetrack illusions, I'm not truly in right mind Demon spawn polluted I'm consumed, a fool in denial Nighttime intrusions concluded with deceitful smiles Waking hours, eyes open on cold tile, covered in sweat and bile Doc shake his head, look over my files Longtime sufferer, asylum Silence, awaiting her arrival