1. La Beauté
2. News Item N:o 2
3. Strawberry Gin
4. Cynara!
5. (I’d teach you how to) Fly
6. La Berceuse de la Grenouille
7. Mascot Moth
8. One Man’s Sweetheart
9. Never Look Inside
10. The Captain & The Widow
11. Adora
1. Intro
2. Is This Casablanca
3. Zaza
4. Go Gently
5. The Legend of La Lirio
6. End of Me
7. Irma Vep Quickstep
8. Grand Feu
9. Habit of Choice
10. Waiting for the Roses
11. Words
12. Chanter Partout
La Beauté (C. Baudelaire)
Je suis belle, ô mortels! comme un rêve de pierre,
Et mon sein, où chacun s’est meurtri tour à tour,
Est fait pour inspirer au poète un amour
Eternel et muet ainsi que la matière.
Je trône dans l’azur comme un sphinx incompris;
J’unis un coeur de neige à la blancheur des cygnes;
Je hais le mouvement qui déplace les lignes,
Et jamais je ne pleure et jamais je ne ris.
Les poètes, devant mes grandes attitudes,
Que j’ai l’air d’emprunter aux plus fiers monuments,
Consumeront leurs jours en d’austères études;
Car j’ai, pour fasciner ces dociles amants,
De purs miroirs qui font toutes choses plus belles:
Mes yeux, mes larges yeux aux clartés éternelles!
News Item N:o 2
You’re productive
And I’m seductive
That’s all there is, my dear
With your fast motorcars
And my rejuvenating jars
Nothing in the world can stop us
From getting nowhere – Fast!
They call it Jazz
They call it cool
They call it grand
They call it Jazz
They call it chic –
I say pathétique.
You have pockets full of paper bills
And foreign obligations
I drink Sazerac for breakfast and for tea
And your intimate relations
Are of no concern to me
As long as I can keep my intellectual company
They call it Jazz
They think it’s swell
They call it grand
The servants are aghast
While the masters’ having a blast
Yes we’re having a blast
We’re having a blasted blast
But how long can it last?
The Cabinet’s a closet full of skeletons and ghouls
The King is quite demented, yet the fool presumes to rule
The aristocrats have lost all their sense of decency
And the commoners are jazzin’ their way to depravity
They call it Jazz
They think it swell
But I think the world might be going to Hell
And it might as well
‘Cause there’s no-one to tell.
Strawberry Gin
Strawberry gin
Without and within
What makes a sin?
We still have Berlin
War is in the making
We’re taking our love’s last adieu.
Oh soul wrapped in steel
You never can feel
The less you conceal
The less you reveal
The winds in your rigging
Are desolate, lonely and few.
“Drink up your strawberry gin
And let it steep in
And let it steep in
So young
You and the war and the night
Don’t give up the fight for your love’s last adieu.”
I’ve tasted defeat
But death is discreet
Your love was too sweet
A dream of deceit
Oh where is now the cypress
The garland of love’s last adieu?
“Ah yes, it’s awful, but it’s true
He was no fool for your boo-hoo-hoo
It’s raining on your avenue
So be a sport, and start anew
See? Everybody’s here to dance
Enough talk about romance
Men have their wars, they have their whores
And there is simply nothing new
In a love’s last adieu”
“Drink up your strawberry gin
And let it steep in
And let it steep in
So young
You and the war and the night
Don’t give up the fight for your love’s last adieu.”
Strawberry gin
Without and within
What makes a sin?
We still have Berlin
War is in the making
We’re taking our love’s last adieu.
Cynara!
Do not resort to stronger wine, my love
Under my reign superbly you shall bloom
You may well refuse,
But should you refuse
Then what is it you’re proving, and to whom?
The orbits do their dance, and here we are
The music stops, the dawn is gray again
Insufferably close
Insufferably far
I never was so hungry for the pain.
How could you say that you loved me
When you were my fate
And how could I say that you’ve hurt me
When I was your fatal flaw?
Are you and I as worthless as before,
All charm, and talk, and pride, and sleight of hand?
Our new loves are faint
All sweet, mild restraint
But ours has fetters neither can withstand.
So marry and be merry as you please
Be faithful in your fashion, your design
But when lamps expire,
Oh, when lamps expire,
This prickly thistle sings, the night is mine!
How could you say that you loved me
When you were my fate
And how could I say that you’ve hurt me
When I was your fatal flaw?
(I’d teach you how to) Fly
I’d teach you how to fly
but I’m afraid of heights
dreary and dreary, I’m
drunk and weary
and where did you go?
why does everyone stare so?
I’d teach you how to fly
‘cause I’m probably true
and you’re probably true too
are you?
I’d teach you how to fly
but I’m afraid of heights
you who have seen these
seamless seas
shall not fear the deep
shall not fear the deep blue
oh earth indivisible
all lives inherently free
we’re inherently free
and once free, would you come?
we’d live eating the grass
and we’d sleep underground
till one day you’d come running to me
and say without talking:
it’s time
let the wind break your hair
get your feet off the ground
we’ll be safe, we’ll be sound
till we’re finally found
and we’ll float in the air
I’d teach you how to fly
but I’m afraid of heights
trusted tools
all words make fools
‘cause they’re probably true
and we’re probably true too
I’d teach you how to fly
but fear steeps in through the seams
it steeps in through the seemless seams
I’d teach you how to fly
but I’m afraid of heights
I’d teach you how to fly
but I’m afraid
Mascot Moth
You try to impress me with your nine days’ wonder
You’re up front with David Devant, and they say
“She’s pretty docile, but this is beyond her
It’s like she’s fallen in love with a god in disguise.”
Why don’t you
Stop dangling from the chandelier, don’t go
Stepping on roses if your feet are bare, silly bear
Make no mistake, I am the hunter and you are the deer
Here’s the deal: If you sink to despair, search for me.
And how did we begin?
My sense of purpose is wearing very thin indeed
I need to leave you be
I have to go, that’s why I had to come
I just don’t want you to look at anyone but me
Just me just look at me
It’s automatic-toc snip-snap
Rap-tap Who’s that?
Come play it again
Tic-toc snip-snap
Rap-tap Who’s that?
Damn spot, out I say
Memory potion is a strange attraction but
It’s a distraction, for what we are scared of is the cure
And every Sunday I keep thinking your God must be lonely
If only the pure will be spared in the end.
Why don’t you
Stop dangling from the chandelier, don’t go
Stepping on roses if your feet are bare, silly bear
Make no mistake, I am the hunter and you are the deer
Here’s the deal: If you sink to despair, search for me.
I have a fever that I just prolong
I blame the question if the answer is wrong
And it’s been wrong all along
I have to go, that’s why I had to come
I just don’t want you to look at anyone but me
One Man’s Sweetheart
Amy was so amiable
From her head to toe
And Tommy loved her true enough
– of course, he was her beau.
But when she found a sweetheart,
She knew just what to do –
Now Amy’s more than amiable
– In Timbuktu.
One man’s hero is another man’s bore
And one man’s feelings are another man’s sore
Some men make a living on what other men adore
For one man’s sweetheart is another man’s whore.
Mary was a little lamb,
Ah, she was white as snow
She buried many baby lambs
So only she would know
But when she found a sweetheart,
To bear his child she swore
Now there’s a little orphan lamb,
But Mary is no more.
One man’s mountain is another man’s shore,
And one man’s window is another man’s door
Some men take advantage of what other men ignore
And one man’s sweetheart is another man’s whore.
Now me, I’m just a poor girl
Don’t have no diamond stash
This one man gives me flowers
And another gives me cash.
I won’t give up my sweetheart,
I don’t regret my crimes,
And somehow I’ve a feeling
That I’m in for trying times.
One man’s “always” is another’s “nevermore”
And one man’s “after” is another man’s “before”
I’d really like to know
Just what tomorrow has in store for me,
I’m one man’s sweetheart and another man’s whore.
Never Look Inside
I changed the rules to make them last
at last they did – no, that’s a lie
Don’t look back, you’ll find the ships
are all waving you goodbye.
And how would you arithmetize
the alphabet?
Take your flowers off this grave,
and remember to forget.
And sing,
Barter, pawn and lend
Breaking as they bend
Barter, pawn and lend
Pawn, barter and lend
Come, let the world grow old
I’ll keep it company
Here I’m quite beside myself
and there’s nowhere that I’d rather be.
So here’s your key to Who-Knows-Where,
your leopard hide,
put it into your left-hand pocket
and never look inside.
But sing,
Barter, pawn and lend
Breaking as they bend
Barter, pawn and lend
Pawn, barter and lend
The Captain & the Widow
She’s wearing her favourite dress
the one that he bought
and she’s put on her dancing shoes
she’s put on her rouge
matching the earrings to the pearls
she’s waltzing through the house
she would dance
she would dance
she would dance
like there’s no tomorrow.
Left-one-two
Turn-one-two
Right-one-two
That’s it! She’s got it now!
But when the doorbell rings
she knows the steps no more.
“You look beautiful, madame,
and I’m sorry I must bring you these news:
His plane was shot down
and his body was never found.
He’s not coming home.”
When the captain is finally through
with what he came to say,
the widow – with a smile on her lips –
keeps waltzing away.
She sways, and she spins,
and she turns to the captain and asks,
“Would you dance with me
like there’s no tomorrow?”
She’s wearing her favourite dress
the one that he bought
and she’s put on her dancing shoes
she’s put on her rouge
matching the earrings to the pearls
she’s waltzing through the house
she would dance
she would dance
she would dance
like there’s no tomorrow.
Dance with me
He’ll be waiting.
Adora
Lui et toi dans le jardin sur toit
et toi, tu n’oses plus respirer
débordée, tu voudrais te méfier
mais
mentir, cést pire
ne respire plus alors
Mais ta penseé a tes mots dépasée
et au lieu de la pavane
la sarabande,
mais sur quel pied danser?
C’est
“Tais-loi, laisse-moi
le meilleur de moi même.”
Bien fait, c’est bien gardée
Bien te taire t’a bien gardée
Ce qu’on n’a jamais dit
Hante toujours nos vies
Adora, Adora,
porquoi hésiter?
Laisse-moi donc passer,
trop dûr de commencer
Tes desseins t’ont créé.
Vingt ans plus tard
tu ne lis plus les lettres de tes amants.
Tes histoires raffinées
sont emportées à la point de l’épée
mais
mentir, c’est pire
ne respire plus jamais.
Bien te taire t’a bien gardée.
Rien faire c’est ton déblais.
Intro
There are so many words that don’t mean anything
And then there’s this: Open your ears and let
me in.
Is This Casablanca
I’ll tell you a tale
It’s quite disgusting
Therefore it’s bound to be true
It’s what you really like:
To see Floria’s pain,
And some public disdain
And Johnny’s no angel
Oh, I am no fool –
My religion forbids it –
Please, let me stay well-deceived
We’ve been through all of these parts:
I am Thibault and Page,
Rose, Mary and Sage
on the musical stage
I wanted to be your everything
I wanted to believe in anything
I wanted to feel
I wanted to
Fill in the facts
Then forget all about it
The truth may stay, but it stains
When lights are burning low
Will your body forget
Will you take what you get
Will you take what you –
The belle of the ball
Is the ghost of the banquet
“She hardly matters”, you say
Is this what we’ve become?
I wallow in greed
I see you water your weeds with champagne
When dirty needs
Spawn dirty deeds
Who’s to choose
Between realities?
Lend me your ear
And get what you came for
It’s what you really like:
To see Floria’s pain,
And some public disdain
And Johnny’s no angel
So kiss me again
As if for the last time
The usual suspect are here
Is this what we’ve become?
I wallow in greed
Who’ll be my tedious detail tonight?
I want to be Eve
In everything
Let’s make some make-believe
Of anything
I want to be Eve
Zaza
You climb on the stage, Zaza
Night after night
Night after night you wonder why
The richest men in the crowd
Are always the ones that just want to own you
Heavy and Ugly and reeking of perfumes
Enamoured and opulent, hopeless fools
They send you flowers and Champagne to your rooms
You toss the flowers and
Get caged like a pair of Cockatoos
And you still keep fighting for every last sou
And the girls at the dance hall all hate you
And the men think you’re some sort of an automobile
running on diamonds – diamonds!
For a pair of pearl earrings or a trinket or two
they’ll get to ride you,
a machine that they put gasoline into
Maybe you should go back to the streets
Zaza, where they want your sex and nothing more
‘Cause the girls on the stage, and the men on the seats
They all still think you’re a whore
And you just want to fall in love in the morning,
and out by the night, and out by the night
They can’t reach you, you hide in their sight
Once you had a price
But you’re safe now, in the limelight
“But Zaza! We need these men –
They are the patrons! so play nice!
Tease them a little, and please them a little
And let them buy you the champagne!”
“Why Champagne?
I’ll have wine! –
Cheapest brandy! Gin and lime!
Throw me out if you must, but I’ll spend the night alone!
Maybe you should go back to Montmartre
Zaza, where the wine is cheap and strong
Let the rich keep the diamonds and their wretched champagne
You’ll sleep through the days, and dance all night long
You’ll sleep through the days, and drink all night long
You’ll sleep through the days, make love all night long
You climb on the stage, Zaza
Night after night
Night after night you wonder why
The girls on the stage, and the men on the seats
They all still think you’re a whore.
Go Gently
Still in your shade –
What can I do to keep you from recurring?
They give me arms full of
Sweet whispers
All lies, they
Let me humour the pain
I’ll take the veil, I vow to never love again
it’s none too easy, this
Forgiving forgetting
Rob me, rob me
but let me go
My life cast in clay
I see my life cast in clay
Go gently
Though the road is clear and it’s calling your name
Round the bend the sorrow is one and the same
Gently, gently
It’s calling your name
Though you’re gone, why should I be wasting away
Slipping away
Before it’s too late
I’ll make some new mistakes and leave the past untold
I’ll give away all
Belongings, begettings
Forgivings, forgettings
I laugh and love and learn to linger and go free
Let sorrow shake me to wake me
Forsake me and break me
Then take me home and make me new.
My life cast in clay
I see my life cast in clay
The Legend of La Lirio
Somewhere there is a bar
And a man whose heart is waning:
He drinks the wine for ebbs and for flows
In la Lirio, la Lirio
No man may know his name
Or his age, or where he sails from
The tales he could tell you nobody knows
In la Lirio, la Lirio
Some say there was a girl
Some say there were a few
But the truth is, he’ll never tell you
How sweet was her voice
And how light were her feet
And how he had hoped to finally say:
“Tell me now you’ll come with me,
No-one can hear you,
Say it quickly and we’ll be away –!”
But the time flew by and he could not say.
Somewhere there is a bar
And a lady who is waiting:
She pours the wine for summers and springs
In la Lirio, la Lirio
Her voice is hoarse with age,
Aguardiente, and betrayal
She sees the tide, she knows what it brings
To la Lirio, la Lirio
Some say there was a man
Some say there were a few
But she’ll never reveal it to you
How loud was his heart
And how proud was his name
And how she still sings to herself every day:
“Give me all that you wish for,
Be my dark one,
Give me madness and I’ll give you Hell –!”
But the time flew by and she would not tell.
Somewhere there is a bar
And there’s a man and there’s a lady
And hopes are high when tides are low
In la Lirio, la Lirio.
End of Me
You go out dressed in laces and feathers
For the rats that go fishing in the sewers
They think they’ve found heaven in your eyes
I’ve seen through their disguise, I know they’ve found it but briefly
Between your thighs.
Why must I love you
When you say, “Oh, I can’t be true!”
And why must I want you
When you say, “ It will never do!”
The laces and feathers are only for the sinful men.
Oh darling, you’re soft around the edges,
Your vows and your pledges are sweet
But me, I want a man who does not ask or plead
Who steals with dignity and takes with pride
and doesn’t care for petty courtesies.
Why must you want me, there are sweeter things than me around?
And why must you want me when you can’t forgive me
The laces and feathers and traces of aether in my breath.
So what if I took you home and had my way with you?
And what if I killed a man and had his skin made into
A tight-fitted dress, and his teeth into a necklace
And we’d live in his house
in a violent and loveless caress
Why must I love you when you bring out the worst in me
And why must I want you when you’ll be the end of me
I’ll hang you by your laces and choke on the feathers myself
I’ll hang you in your laces I swear, but until then –
You’ll be the end of me
You’ll be the end of me
Grand Feu
L’histoire ècrira que je t’ai blessé
Comme tu m’as blessée
Nous nous etions brûlee
En écoutant nos propres voix.
Voilà le grand feu des jours d’antan
Voilà le grand feu de temps en temps
Voilà le grand feu et tant de temps de temps
Le brulûre est fait pour solidité
Pour frigidité pour l’éternité
Pour être plus que parfait.
Nos serments sont en bois
Nos destins en faïence
Shh, mon bien, garde-toi
Garde-toi le silence
Voyons ce que l’histoire ècrira
Habit of Choice
You have a place that is secret
And I have a place that is dark
And they’re not far apart,
Just like we’re never
For me, it’s a chain to be broken
For you, it’s a habit of choice
Raise your glasses and rejoice,
We’re in it together.
It’s a standing invitation
A creation of rules
I’m standing here, wond’ring aloud
Just how can I end
Something that’s never begun?
At first, there was nothing between us
At first, we were two of a kind
Birds of a feather baked in a pie
What a fictitious fever!
Now all of your dreams need a saviour
And in all of my lies there’s a blame
I am dreaming of the day
We’ll silently sever
It’s a sordid sensation,
a violation of truce
I’m standing here, wond’ring aloud
Just how can I end
Something that’s never begun?
Our candle burns at both ends
And will not last the night
It was ages since I told you
It gives a light.
We’re sharing between us an awful bane
Let’s make it a marvel to behold,
I’ll be silent when you’re colder in your grave
I give you a standing ovation
For a nation of fools
I’m standing here, wond’ring aloud
Just how can I end
Something that’s never begun?
Waiting for the Roses
The lights die out, the curtain close
Old, alone, forgotten and exposed
You stand there, waiting
Waiting for the roses
You remember the taste of champagne
And the dresses that caressed you
And the glances that undressed you
You were the new face and everybody loved you
You really had that taste of divine
Remember how the curtains rose
The light so bright in your eyes
You were so young and so strong and so unopposed
And in your dressing room the roses
You had a suitor to suit your every need
A chauffeur or three for your automobile
A lover for the thrill and a husband for the will
Your face on every magazine
Then – – – the first man to leave you,
The first doubtful reviews
You remember the gin
And the yellowish tinge
And the dark shadows under the eyes
And then you threw away the roses.
You remember the first time you realised
That old photographs do fade
A slenderer figure and a new face
Always win over the tricksters of the trade
Next, you don’t remember quite so well
– the mirror was lying! –
The first sanatorium trip
And the headlines
– but then, there were always headlines –
In magazines still bearing your name!
And your difficult divorce ended up as dull prose written by some nobody.
And what did they say?
“Thinly disguised character of a past star makes an appearance!”
– PAST? Not quite there yet!
And a young man came
One cold, lonely morning
Asking questions of the past you thought you’d put behind
Questions of the past
Bringing back names and faces and tears.
And you remember the last time you walked down the stage
Not knowing if you’re acting in or seeing a play.
And the lights die out, the curtain close
Old, alone, forgotten and exposed
You stand there, waiting
Waiting for the roses.
Words
Words words words words
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
Inch by stinking inch
No, I never had that special someone
You know what they say
Magic’s in the makeup
But the taste is in the bones.
Words words words words
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
Inch by stinking inch
Chanter Partout
Dire noir ou dire blanc
“À tous les ègards” ou “bien de regards”
Savamment, je vais vous conseiller:
C’est pas compliquée, simplement
Chanter pourtant
Franchement n’importe quand
Acheter des allers-retours
et faire des tours et puis des détours
Malgré tout vos yeux sont ouvertes,
Il n’y a rien à faire qu’à
Chanter partout
Sûrtout n’importe ou
Café de Abejas 
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