PRINCE OF PAN
THE PRINCE OF PAN
WILL DANCE NO MORE
NO MORE MOON WALK ENCORES
NO MORE SPINS GALORE
NO MORE SELF DELIGHT
IN PIROUETTE OR GRACEFUL SOAR
BUT THE JOY WAS GONE
LONG BEFORE, LONG BEFORE, LONG BEFORE
THE JOY WAS GONE LONG BEFORE
THE PRINCE OF PAN WILL SING NO MORE
NO MORE WORDS OF HOPE
NO MORE TOUGH BULLIES TO TELL OFF
NO MORE RHYTHMIC FICTION THRILLERS
NO MORE SILLY ABCS, LYRICAL LONGING, OR YOUTHFUL GLEE
BUT THE JOY WAS GONE
LONG BEFORE, LONG BEFORE, LONG BEFORE
THE JOY WAS GONE LONG BEFORE
THE PRINCE OF PAN WILL FANTASIZE NO MORE
OF LOOKING LIKE DIANA ROSS
CARRYING BAREBREASTED LIBERTY’S TORCH
RESURRECTING NEVER NEVER LAND
OR EVER ANGRILY EVOLVING
INTO A MAN
THE PRINCE OF PAN WILL DREAM NO MORE
OF EBONY AND IVORY
UNIVERSAL HARMONY
FEEDING THE CHILDREN
ENDING OPPRESSION
BUT WE STILL CAN
KEN POST-JUNE 2009
KEITH RICHARDS
A SOUL FORGED
FROM THE MOLTEN STEEL
OF AN ANCIENT BLACKSMITH’S FURNACE
HAMMERED & POUNDED
WITH ANVIL & FIRE
BESIDE AN ELECTRIC SIX STRINGED LYRE
THE BODY LEAN
CLOTHED IN BLACK LEATHER JEANS
HOBNAIL BOOTS & FINGERS
FULL OF SKULL RINGS
EYE PATCH & PIRATE SWAGGER
PLAYING GUITAR,SWINGING
FROM THE WINKIN’ TONGUE’S ROPE LADDER
POCKMARKED,CAMEL FACED
TOBACCO STAINED
SNAGGLE TOOTHED,
WHISKEY BREATHED DRAGOON
WITH A VOICE THAT
CRACKED & CROAKED
AS IT TRIED IN VAIN TO CROON
SWASHBUCKLING
MOZART LOVING, GUITAR TOTING
A BUCK ROGERS GUARDING
THE GATES OF HELL
WHERE HIS FRIENDS SMOKE
THE PIPES OF PAN
& THE ANCIENT TROUBADOURS
STILL DWELL
THE LICKS OF HIS GUITAR
SPRAYED & JUMPED
SPLAYED LEGS
LIKE LASER BEAMS OF FIRE
WITH THE ROAR OF A FLAME THROWER OR
THE COMFORT OF A ROMANTIC CAMPFIRE
MICK
AS VENUS RISES
MARS INCITES US
TO TAP THE JOY
DEEP INSIDE OF US
BEGGARS JESTER,
EVERYMAN ‘S CLOWN
THE WILDEST CHEERLEADER
TO EVER EGG ANYBODY ON
PHOSPHORESCENCE,
EFFERVESCENCE
ENERGY IS THE ESSENCE
OF ETERNAL DELIGHT
VOWELS LIKE OYSTERS
SLIDING OFF THE TONGUE
PHRASES DRIPPING PROMISES
EYES DENYING IT’S BEEN DONE
TEASING &TAUNTING
CAJOLING & EXHORTING
THE ASS SASHAYING
THE HIPS KEEP ON ROLLING
PRANCING PRANKSTER
BLUES TROTTING ROOSTER
BALLET SWIRLING COCKSTAR
CUPID’S TRUEST SHOOTER
HITCH YOUR HOPES
TO A SLIPPERY CROONER
YA PAY THE PRICE &
HE”LL SING YA TO THE MOON
PHOSPHORESCENCE,
EFFERVESCENCE
ENERGY IS THE ESSENCE
OF ETERNAL DELIGHT
HOW LONG?
HOW LONG WILL THEY REMEMBER YOU?
AS LONG AS BEETHOVEN?
AS LONG AS RIMBAUD?
AS LONG AS NAPOLEON?
AS LONG AS VAN GOGH?
OH, HAVE NO FEAR
THE MOON WILL REMEMBER YOU
OH HOW SHE SWOONED
WHEN YOU CROONED
OH HOW YOU WOOED HER
TO YOUR BIG BRASS BED
HOW YOU SHTUPPED HER
UNTIL IT DAWNED ON HER
THAT YOU HAD FOOLED HER
THEN YOU DUELED HER
UNTIL SHE MOONED YA
YOU FUMED
FELT DOOMED
UNTIL YOU DENIED YOU
EVEN KNEW HER
BUT THE MOON WILL REMEMBER YOU
HOW LONG WILL THEY LISTEN TO YOU?
AS LONG AS BEETHOVEN
AS LONG AS MOZART
GILBERT & SULLIVAN
RAVEL
HOW LONG WILL THEY REMEMBER YOU?
AS LONG AS THE PYRAMIDS
AS LONG AS THE SPHINX
THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
CAVE DRAWINGS OF THE BEAST?
THE STARS WILL WELCOME YOU
YOU, WHO SHINED SO TRUE
YOU, WHO HAD NO CHOICE
WHO COULD SING SO WELL
BUT HAD SUCH A LOUSY VOICE
THE ANGELS WILL SING YOUR PRAISES
YOU, WHO MISTAKENLY GARBLED YOUR PHRASES
BUT WHO GARGLED DELIBERATELY
IN ALL THOSE RAT RACE FACES
HO SPAT WORDS IN THE FACE
OF ACCEPTED SENSE AND BAD TASTE
OH THE ANGELS WILL DANCE FOR YOU
HOW LONG WILL THEY REMEMBER YOU?
AS LONG AS THE TAROT?
THE ORACLES OF GREECE?
THE GLYPHS OF THE MAYA?
THE RAMBLINGS OF NOSTRADAMUS?
HOW LONG WILL THEY MEMORIZE YOU?
AS LONG AS YEATS
THE VERSE OF SHAKESPEARE
THE HUMOR OF CORSO,
THE JOURNALISM OF GINSBERG
THE ROMANCEOF SHELLEY OR KEATS?
YOU, WHO WHINED SO TRUE
ONE OF THE CHOSEN FEW
YOU WITH SO MUCH TO DO
HOW LONG WILL THEY REMEMBER YOU?
PRIVATE PROPHECY
THERE IS
NO PRIVATE PROPHECY
A TREE FALLS IN THE FOREST
THE EARTH TREMBLES
AN ACORN FALLS INTO A POND
THE WATER RIPPLES
SOME PROPHETS SHOULD
REMAIN PRIVATE
NO HARM TO THEM
THEIR THOUGHTS THOUGHT
A CANOPY FOR THOSE
WHO SEEK SHELTER
THEIR POEMS POEMED
A HIDDEN TREASURY
THEIR DANCES DANCED
A SPUN WEB OF RHYMERY
THERE IS
NO PRIVATE PROPHECY
WARP WAIFS
WHEN THE MUSIC’S PLAYING
AND MY EYES ARE CLOSED
I SEE MY ANCESTORS
DANCING QUITE BOLDLY
THE MUSIC REVIVES THEM,
JUST AS IT MOVES WE
A COMMINGLING OF ERAS,
A SPACE TIME WARP FRATERNITY
ENCHANTED SPIRITS,
WANDERING GHOSTS
HELLRAISING SPECTRES,
LUMBERING OAFS
OVER SNOWY MOUNTAIN PEAKS,
TWENTY THOUSAND FEET HIGH
I SAW THEM ONCE,
BUT NOT THROUGH MY EYES
WITH THE EXACTNESS OF MATH
& THE PASSION OF FAITH
SPOKE WANDERING KINGS
DISGUISED AS MUSICAL WAIFS
TIGHTROPE
STANDING
ON A TIGHTROPE
HOPING
NOT TO LOSE HOPE
AS THE ABYSS YAWNS
BELOW ME
BUT IT’S NOT THE ONLY
DANGER
BETWEEN THE SHORES
OF JOY AND ANGER
AND THE CLIFFS THAT SOAR
ABOVE ME
BETWEEN THE DIZZY, DAFFY
DANCE OF BEING
& THE BUBBLING PIT
OF NAUSEOUS VILE
ONLY FRICTION
SAFELY GUIDES ME
I FEEL THE EARTH BEFORE ME
IN ALL IT’S SPINNING GLORY
A BILLION & ONE NIGHTS
OF STARRIED STORIES
MY LONGITUDE & LATITUDE
THE STRAITS OF BEATITUDE
THE EYE OF A
NEEDLE’S LEEWAY
DESPITE A STATIC CALENDAR
A DUSTY OLD COMET
STILL MEANDERS
OH COSMIC CALLIOPE
ANCIENT HOBO
HERMIT HERALD
DEEP SKY REMINDER
OF LIFE’S MYSTERIOUS GRANDEUR
PICK THAT LOCK
A GIFT FROM THE MOTHER
TO THE FIRST SON
TO REALIGN THE HEAVENS
EARTH, JUPITER & SATURN
TO RETURN EACH MISSING
MONTH, HOUR AND INCH
TO RETURN TO THE POOR
WHAT WAS STOLEN BY THE KINGS
I’M GONNA PICK THAT LOCK
I’M GONNA GET THROUGH THAT DOOR
I’M GONNA PICK THAT LOCK
I THINK I’VE BEEN
THROUGH IT BEFORE
I’M GONNA PICK THAT LOCK
I KNOW SOMEONE WHO’S BEEN
KNOCKING AT THAT DOOR
I GOT MY EARS TO THE STETHOSCOPE
LISTENING TO THE TUMBLERS
GOT MY EARS TO THE STETHOSCOPE
(CLICK) GOT THE FIRST NUMBER
IF I BREAK THE COMBINATION
THERE WILL BE A
CELEBRATION TONIGHT
I GOT MY EYES ON THE SKY
DON’T NEED NO TELESCOPE
I’VE SEEN PI IN THE SKY
DON’T NEED NO TELESCOPE
I’VE GOT A SPHINX IN SIGHT
IT’S ONLY A RIDDLE IN DAYLIGHT
GOT THE SPHINX IN MY SIGHTS
I’M GONNA BREAK THAT CODE
I’M GONNA BLOW THAT NOTE
I’M GONNA RIDE THAT WAVE
FEEL YOUR FEARS DISSIPATE
ANTICIPATE THE MOMENT
WHEN THE MATHEMATICIAN
LIES DOWN WITH THE POET
I’M GONNA WATCH YOU FLOAT
AS I HIT THAT NOTE
HIGHER THAN THE BIRDS
SURFING THE EARTH’S CURVE
DEFYING GRAVITY’S SWAY
OUT INTO SPACE
WHERE THE METEORS RACE BY
THERE’S A LOT AT STAKE
YOU’RE NOT HERE TO
SUFFER A FATE
IT’S THE PROCLAMATION DAYS
THE EMANCIPATION PHASE
HOLD YOUR HEAD UP STRAIGHT
DON’T HESITATE
YOUR DESTINY AWAITS
WE’RE NOT HERE BY CHANCE
NO ARBITRARY CONSTRUCTS
NO ACCIDENTAL CIRCUMSTANCE
NO HAPHAZARD PLANET WANDERING
NO SUPERFICIAL PREACHERS
POSTURING
THIS COULD BE HEAVEN
THIS COULD BE HELL
A RETURN TO THE GARDEN
OR A BURN’T UP SHELL
THE EMPEROR’S NEW SONGS
HE’S A LITTLE TOO HEAVY/A LITTLE TOO LIGHT
ALITTLE TOO DARK/ ALITTLE TOO BRIGHT
A LITTLE TOO CLEVER/A LITTLE TOO DUMB
HE DON’T FIT IT/WHERE IS HE COMING FROM?
HE’S A LITTLE TOO SOUR/ A LITTLE TOO SWEET
A LITTLE TOO SLOPPY/ A LITTLE TOO NEAT
A LITTLE TOO HOT/ A LITTLE TOO COOL
A LITTLE TO YOUNG/ AND TOO OLD TO FOOL
HE’S A LITTLE TO SOBER/ A LITTLE TOO DRUNK
A LITTLE TOO TRENDY/ A LITTLE TOO PUNK
A LITTLE TOO LOOSE/A LITTLE TOO TIGHT
A LITTLE TO STUPID/ TO BE SO OFTEN RIGHT
HE’S A LITTLE TOO ELUSIVE/A LITTLE TOO DIRECT
A LITTLE TOO LITERAL/ A LTTLE TOO ESOTERIC
A LITTLE TO SECURE /A LITTLE TO DESPERATE
A LITTLE TOO INDEPENDENT TO GO, STOP,& FETCH IT
HE’S A LITTLE TO CHIC/A LITTLE TOO PASSE
A LITTLE TOO MUCH NIGHT/A LITTLE TOO MUCH DAY
A LITTLE TOO SOLEMN / A LITTLE TOO WILD
A LITTLE TOO OPEN/ WHAT’S HE TRYING TO HIDE?
HE’S A LITTLE TOO FREAKY/ A LITTLE TOO STRAIGHT
A LITTLE TOO UNSTABLE TO BE A GOOD MATE
A LITTLE TOO FUNNY/WHY IS HE SO SERIOUS?
HE’S A LITTLE TOO NUTTY/HE’S TOTALLY DELIRIOUS
HE CAN’T PLAY THE GUITAR/ HE CAN’T DANCE
HE CAN’T SING/ OK I’LL GIVE IT TO HIM
HE SURE CAN SHAKE HIS ASS
ITS NOT MUSIC/NOT COMEDY
TOO MUCH SEX/NOT ENOUGH VIOLENCE
& A LITTLE TOO MANY HOMILIES
IS HE TRASHING FREUD/JOKING WITH JUNG
IS HE LIVING AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT
HIS HAIR LOOKS LIKE EINSTEIN’S
HOW COME HE STAYS SO YOUNG?
IS HE JOKING IS HE JIVING
HE LOOKS NAKED/WHAT’S HE HIDING
O WHY DONT HE JUST DISAPPEAR?
HE COULD BLOW IT FOR ALL OF US YOU HEAR
IF WE LET HIM THROUGH THE GATES
WE WOULD BE TEMPTING ALL THE FATES
LIKE THE TROJAN HORSE WE’VE GOT TO WAIT
CAUSE WE COULD MAKE A TRAGIC MISTAKE
WHY DONT HE JUST DISAPPEAR
HIS PRESCENCE MAKES IT ALL TOO CLEAR
THAT THE PRODUCT WE ARE SELLING
IS NOT TOO COMPELLING
AND THE EMPEROR HAS NO EARS
ON THE EDGE OF THE ABYSS (2002)
DO I BELIEVE WHAT THEY ARE TELLING ME
OR DO I LISTEN TO MY OWN MIND?
CAUSE IF I BELIEVE WHAT THEY ARE TELLING ME
I’M BOUND TO GO COMPLETELY INSANE
SEEMS LIKE WE’VE CHANGED
INTO WHAT WE ONCE DESPISED
SEEMS LIKE THE STATE IS
JUMPING INTO MY MIND
WE BETTER REMEMBER WHAT
AND HOW MUCH WE’VE LOST
BEFORE THEY START A WAR
TO DEFRAY THE COST
DON’T KNOW WHAT I’D BE DEFENDING
DON’T KNOW WHAT I’D BE FIGHTING FOR
FEEL LIKE MY SPIRIT’S ALREADY IN THE TRENCHES
AND MY SOUL IS IGNORED
DANCING IS DANGEROUS AND
FLIRTING IS MOVING TOWARD A CRIME
GENEROSITY IS SUSPICIOUS
WHEN FLEECING IS THE TIMES
SPONTANEITY IS NOT TRUSTED AND CREATIVITY A BORE
WHEN LIVING IN A VIRTUAL COCOON
SLAVE TO SOME CREDIT CARD FIRM
THE RUGGED INDIVIDUALIST HAVE PACKED UP AND GONE
AND EVEN THE TAME ONES ARE BARELY HANGING ON
THE PETTY FOOLS ARE FIGHTING WARS FOR TURF
AND TO PAY FOR THEIR SUPPRESSED URGES
LEAVING THE HORN PLAYERS
SCUFFLING & TRUMPETING
STREET DIRGES
SO UNTIL I’VE BEEN PROVEN WRONG
I WILL DANCE MY DANCE AND SING MY SONG
HOPING AGAINST HOPE
AND STRUGGLING TO STAY FREE
WHERE A CRIME IS PRESERVATION
OF ONE’S INDIVIDUALITY