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?