Man in the Tall Black Hat

As I stand here in vain
I see that her eyes are filled with pain
but her complexion is so plain.
I know I can't get to her,
to try and make it better
so I better get goin' sooner or later.

As I look out the window
it dawned on me that when I go
I'm going to the first place that don't know
my name.
And I hope they won't blame
me for being the one to play the game.

It takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry.
Even though I don't pick or choose, I try
to lift up my head and put it in the sky
and yell aloud, "We shall overcome!"
I know some will look and shun
me, but I won't be done.

I want to know if
Freedom is stiff
or if it's a guitar riff.
Because if it is,
I'll be in bliss
or not like this.

If Love is a ball
then give me a call
but don't be so useless and all.
Music is my life
even in strife
or when threatened with a knife.

The fast one now will soon be slow
Shakespeare soon will not be shown
and Dylan will then be blown
into the wind.
But in the end
things will mend.

Faces will twist,
arrows will kiss,
and lovers will miss.
Worlds will collide,
cowards shall hide,
and death will be to the mind.

Passive ones will die,
sentimental ones shall cry,
and quiters won't try.
Radicals will pay the price,
rockers will run out of vice,
and folkies shall know the world isn't always nice.

God knows when
you pull a prank on them.
Now Hell's ships shall make hem.
Rock is devil-music.
Okay, then Unhindered makes me sick
and Eric Clapton can't pick.

Love minus zero
over no limit shows
that love does not know
it must leave unseen.
It doesn't even have to go green
as so in my 115th dream.

A ship of gold I saw,
and it struck me with awe.
But it's alright Ma,
I'm only sighing,
only aching,
I'm only bleeding.