You look as good as sin with that Mephistophelian grin
Gazing at the heavens, plucking feathers from your wings
My mind’s on fire, memories flee for their lives
And swim towards oblivion across the wine dark sea of time

There’s a skeleton at the banquet, there’s a leper at the ball
The early roses weep in the fleeting democracy of snowfall
Box up your beliefs, she said, put up them bedroom shelves
The reality you seek is hidden even from itself

I said that’s gotta be the understatement of the century
I still believe in love

Slender Aphrodite strokes a purring pussy cat
They say she can whip a gallon of cream in three minutes flat
Napoleon in my daydreams lays in a pool of light
His situations a little heavy and his pants are a little tight

These days I stay up late worrying about the world
Wishing the moon would become a saviour or maybe just a girl
Climb into my bed, she said, don’t leave me here alone
My heart might be a wilderness but my heart’s your only home

I said that’s gotta be the understatement of the century
I still believe in love

I’ve never met a businessman who isn’t afraid of death
We get drunk on the myth of endless time when there is no whiskey left
Here comes the green mermaid queen, there goes the neighbourhood
From this even the milky way would turn away if she only could

Visions form and visions fade, fall apart and reassemble
Like a bull burned from his barn I look at the sunset and I tremble
Don’t take this personally, she said, but Fred, you don’t exist
Put down that ragged alphabet, come here, give me a kiss

I said that’s gotta be the understatement of the century
I still believe in love

Low clouds over Memphis, midnight’s late for his shift
Harbourless immensities surround all this
In the local mega-church they’re raking the faithful in
With a cup of free trade coffee and salvation from your sins

Love floods my molecules but this sadness just won’t budge
Wether I like it or not I’ve got to stand up and be judged
Tear your eyes from Eden, she said, we don’t belong there anymore
You’ve got to cross this ocean even if there is no other shore

I said that’s gotta be the understatement of the century
I still believe in love