Blameless

I recall when you came to the rainbow ball-room

Where the soldiers used to drill

And you sang scat, swing and a Christmas song

In the shadow of a strip-steel mill

Well tonight I caught the retrospective

I had very little choice

Did the booze put the padding under your skin

For the winter of your voice?

Born to be re-born

Named to be re-named

Directed but directionless

The blameless to be blamed

Did they make you sleep in the truck your were born in?

Who put the grease in the paint?

Could you breathe in the band and the sequins?

Was there somewhere to fall when you'd faint?

And how many times did your beans make five?

Was the star only tacked to the door?

What's this long, long lane that has no turn?

We're not in Kansas anymore

Blameless like the corn that doesn't sway

By the back-lit, back-drop, back-lot. broad highway

Blameless and then somewhere in the storm

The principal boy couldn't change her uniform

We're going to roll you round and round in the re-runs

And study the chemistry

Re-play the grey Ed Sullivan's

He always looked like Nixon to me

Over your shoulder went more than one care

That could have been your song

Over and over and over and out

You never figured where you went wrong