A Fan Speaks / Famous Man

[Intro]
This song's all about when I met Ray Davies in an airport in Denmark.

[Part I: A Fan Speaks]

[Verse 1]
I met Ray Davies in a Danish airport
And it turned out he was a really nice guy
He said, "Keep writing your songs, man
For as long as you can"
And from Ray Davies that's good advice
But actually he didn't quite say that
'Cause I added that word "man"
But at least I'm following his good words
And of course I'm a very big fan, yeah
And I'm just trying to make this thing scan

[Verse 2]
I've met many a famous person
And I'm not gonna drop any names
Sure, I did mention Ray
When I started to play
That's 'cause he is a credit to fame
Unlike a few I could mention
Who actually quite freaked me out
They treated me like I was one of those guys
Who carries a small gun about
Who carries a small gun about

[Chorus]
So congratulations to those of you
Who feel the need to congratulate your heroes
If someone means a lot to you
Well, I'm sure that it rates a mention
But commiserations to souls that are lost
Who feel that killing is a way to get your love across
Great God above, keep the stars that we love
From those merely seeking attention

[Verse 3]
Well, I know what it's like to be bothered
And I know what it's like to be tired
But you've gotta hide
In some kinda disguise
To be famous and yet be walked by
So, stars, watch your manners around me
You don't have to talk to me long
I might not pull a gun out on you
But I might write you into this song
The second version of this song

[Chorus]
So, congratulations to those of you
Who feel the need to congratulate your heroes
If someone means a lot to you
Well, I'm sure that it rates a mention
But commiserations to souls that are lost
Who feel that murder is a way to get your love across
Great God above, keep the stars that we love
From those merely seeking attention

[Outro]
Great God above, keep the stars that we love
From those merely seeking attention
Great God above, keep the stars that we love
From those merely seeking attention
Great God above, keep the stars that we love
From those merely seeking attention

[Part II: Famous Man]

[Verse 1]
Mother, last night I shot a famous man
His music, his life, well I was his greatest fan
Mother, now I'm sorry for the things that I did
I've been hiding it all of my life
I should've kept it still hid
I wish I'd kept it still hid

[Verse 2]
Mother, last night I shot a famous man
Ain't it funny the things a man does 'cause he knows that he can?
When I raise my voice, it's a small feeble sound in the wind
To make yourself heard in this big bad world
You must know where to begin
Must know where to begin

[Verse 3]
Mother, last night I shot a famous man
But today I can't say if it all went according to plan
Mother, he just looked me straight in the eye
And now I know how he felt
Every day till he died
Every day till he died

[Verse 4]
Mother, well now people listen to me
I'm the king of America, some say that I'm the king of comedy
But Mother, now that I know what it means to be heard
I wish I'd put down my gun, like he put down his guitar
And I wish that I'd swallowed my words
Wished I'd swallowed my words

[Outro]
Mother, I knew him, but he never knew me (Ah)