Peepshow

A crumpled future in your fist
The killing streak ascends sun kissed
And the firestarter from within
Pokes out from fever blistered grin
King salamander that's his name
A desert maker that's his aim
The benign cremator, branding iron in his hand
Eager and willing to torch the land

All fire and brimstone
This jack-o-lantern
He likes to watch the buildings burn

His ardour smoulders, phosphorous flies
He radiates with urgence to hypnotise
Stoke the furnace, feed his need
This thirst for fire is all he seeks
He's the blazing rubber making tracks
The blue touch paper at your back

All fire and brimstone
This salamander king
He basks while all around him burns

`giddy-up, burn-up, not fade away'
These words ignite and pave his way
`giddy-up, burn-up, stoke it up and turn it up'
He sings these words in fervid frame

All fire and brimstone
This jack-o-lantern
He likes to watch the pyres burn

Jack be nimble, jack be quick
Jack jump over the candlestick

Creeping up the backstairs
Slinking into dark stalls
Shapeless and slumped in bathchairs
Furtive eyes peep out of holes
She has many guises
She'll do what you want her to
Playing dead and sweet submission
Cracks the whip deadpan on cue
Peek-a-boo peek-a-boo
Peek-a-boo peek-a-boo

Reeking like a pigsty
Peeling back and gagging free
Flaccid ego in your hand
Chokes on dry tears, can you understand?
She's jeering at the shadows
Sneering behind a smile
Lunge and thrust to pout and pucker
Into the face of the beguiled

Peek-a-boo peek-a-boo
Golly jeepers
Where'd you get those peepers?
Peepshow, creepshow
Where did you get those eyes?

Strobe lights pump and flicker
Dry lips crack out for more
`come bite on this rag doll, baby!
That's right, now hit the floor'
They're sneaking out the back door
She gets up from all fours
Rhinestone fools and silver dollars
Curdle into bitter tears

Peek-a-boo peek-a-boo
Golly jeepers
Where'd you get those peepers?
Peepshow, creepshow
Where did you get those eyes?

In the soil of out sadness
Hear our hearts bell a serenade
A faint choir tenderly shaping
A lament ... a hollow refuge
In the blood of the twinkling sky
Breathing in air drunk dry
There was once a time of rapture
All is lost ... a pale gleaming

Across this crooked land
Runs a crooked man
Our loved ones die
Under the hammer
Of the soviet sun

Nothing can erase this night
But there's still light with you
Rhapsody ...
And if we can never see the sun
There's still light with you
Rhapsody ...

And i have seen all i want to
And i have felt all i want to
Rhapsody ...
But we can dream all we want to
We can dream all we want to

Down where this ugly man
Seeks his sustenance
Down in the blue, midnight flare
A glass hand cuts through the water
Scything into his twisted roots
Then from his eyes
Spring fireflies
Breathing life
Into a roaring disguise

Needles and sins, sins and needles
He's gasping for air
In the wishing well
Dust to rust, ashes to gashes
Hand around the killing jar

A soft hoodwink of shadow
The size of make-believe
Punches through his spike of rage
A glass hand cuts through the water
Snuffing out the magic fury

Then from inside
Bolt lightning cries
Swiftly crushed
The final, muffled sighs

Needles and sins, sins and needles
He's gasping for air
In the wishing well
Dust to rust, ashes to gashes
Hand around the killing jar

In the sharp gust of love
My memory stirred
When time wreathed a rose
A garland of shame
Its thorn my only delight
War torn, afraid to speak
We dare to breathe
Majestic
Imperial
A bridge of sighs
Solitude sails
In a wave of forgiveness
On angels' wings

Reach out your hands
Don't turn your back
Don't walk away
How in the world
Can i wish for this?
Never to be torn apart
Close to you
'til the last beat
Of my heart

At the close of day
The sunset cloaks
These words in shadowplay
Here and now, long and loud
My heart cries out
And the naked bone of an echo says
Don't walk away

Reach out your hands
I'm just a step away
How in the world
Can i wish for this?
Never to be torn apart
Close to you
'til the last beat
Of my heart

How in the world
Can i wish for this?
Never to be torn apart
'til the last beat
'til the last fleeting beat
Of my heart

Bad word,
Or bad deed,
Unpunished invites grief,
Here's
Rawhead and bloodybones
Reaching from
Dark cupboard
Crouching under stair,
Lurking in chimney,
Pond or well

We're down here,
Held here
Dragged here
And drowned here by
Rawhead and bloodybones

Pop eyed,
Horns,
Bushy tailed
Long teeth and
Claws as well
Rawhead and
Bloodybones