I lay all my songs

At Johnny Mathis' feet

I said, "Johnny, Johnny tell me

Can you tell me how to live?"

"All my hopes are unraveling

And I just lost my lease

On my house without love

Doors, or windows without peace"

And with a wave of his jewel-encrusted hand

Across the glittering Las Vegas scene he said

"You gotta learn how to disappear

In the silk and amphetamine"

Johnny looked at my songs and he said

"Well, at first guess

Never in my life

Have I ever seen such a mess"

"Why do you say everything

As if you were a thief?

Like what you've stolen has no value

Like what you preach is far from belief?"

And with a wave of his red white and blue hand

Across the glittering Hollywood scene he said

"You gotta learn how to disappear

In the silk and amphetamine, in the silk and amphetamine"

Johnny looked at my old collection

Of punk rock posters

Anonymous scenes of disaffection

Chaos, torture

And he said, "You were on the right track

But you're a lamb jumping for the knife"

He said, "A real showman knows

How to disappear in the spotlight

In the spotlight, in the spotlight, in the spotlight"