The City of the Sun

The attendant at the Texaco saw the guitar case in my back seat
And decided to impart his tragic tale
He said: "I used to play in a band like you
We even made a record too"
And sang a bar that hardly rang a bell

Now I'm not one to make a lot
Of omens and premonitions and fleeting thoughts
But I must admit that I tried to avoid his stare
'Cause I didn't want to see him see himself in me
With the look of an extinguished flame that might be lurking there

Waxing sad with drip and dreg
C'mon now Toto get off my leg
You gotta remember we're not in Kansas anymore
And remember always to look both ways
Say "please" and "thank you" and curtsy twice
Before you gore their sacred dinosaurs…

Welcome to the City of the Sun

Johnny on the sidewalk
Johnny on the street
Johnny in the places where the outlaws meet
Johnny on the sofa
Johnny shaking hands
Johnny get a spinning head in wonderland

Welcome to the City of the Sun
Welcome to the City --

Oh Johnny you've got a song in your heart
You've got important things to say
We're here to help you make a new start
We're not gonna take your heart away
You stand before us like a veiled figure at the end of a long gallery
Distant and forever mysterious
Advice from the tasteless to the bland
Wash all that magic from your hands
Make it so we might understand

[A&R Men]
Good morning precious
Good morning special
I've got news for you
There's millions like you

[Radio Preacher]
Everyone of you listening to this broadcast
I want you to pack your bags
You're not going on a vacation
But we're movin'
Can you shout Amen somebody? (Amen!)
Because we're moving into the City of the Sun!
Where we can enjoy all of His blessings!

Where power seems to get no rest
It's the Shaming of the True, I guess
But zombie I can see you're qualified

Johnny on the sidewalk
Johnny on the street
Johnny in the places where the bigwigs meet

Welcome to the City of the Sun

Oh Johnny, you got a seed in your head
It is the seed of your demise
Ambition's gonna lure you away
Into the land of compromise

You stand before us like a brash over-ripened nectarine
And someone better pick you soon
Advice for the dying from the dead
Silence the voices in your head
Wouldn't you rather eat instead?

[Answering Machine Message]
"Hi, you've reached the dilapidated shack of Johnny Virgil
Sorry I can't come to the phone at the moment
Please leave your name and number after the F sharp."