see the high wire man there before the sun he goes home at night where he beats on his son the playwright in the attic in his skylight of sun has a cigarette on his lip and the sun beats down on the smart smart flesh it comes down from high on its heavenly stead suggesting redemption will be easily possessed for less than a pound of flesh and it s terribly important to every man of estate to settle the score write the record straight so he may free his slaves where on the deathbed he lays such sweet and knowing flesh knowing in the end you ll be alone for lonely death does creep so hire yourself a chimney maid and smoke yourself to sleep among the mannequin men all dressed and adorned my manic depressive true love she leaves me forlorn the rooster crows at daybreak the pawn has a cigarette on his lip saying pretty girls go and take your time for lord only knows how you have taken mine i ve chased them clear through the ends of time to hold the smart smart flesh knowing in the end you ll be alone for lonely death does creep so hire yourself a chimney maid and smoke yourself to sleep now the hateful playwright each time that he dies must visit the judge in a new disguise saying judge in your robes oh judge so wise there s something on your lip and the man of estate each time he dies must clear the black pages that tarnish the mind in a bible and a bath of formaldehyde he soaks the smart smart flesh saying in the end you ll be alone for lonely death does creep so hire yourself a chimney maid and smoke yourself to sleep now the unknowing tumor is fixing its home in the damp bed of the catacomb as the raging war on the high wire unfolds she buries her teeth in the flesh now the world s a machine do you know that it s true for the soul hovers idly just outside the room it loves itself wildly but what can it do a cigarette on its lip