Let's Get the Show on the Road

A non-person shifted the snow on his shoes
And huddled down deep in his coat
Both of us knew he had little to lose
At least, there was nothing of note

How sometimes the wicked go walking away
And innocents suffer the loss
A price he was being invited to pay
A last nail to finish a cross

He said, "Let's get the show on the road, my friend
Let's get the show on the road
Even in the dark there's a light at the end
Now let's get the show on the road."

Our pathways had crossed for the briefest of time
I guess that's the way you'd expect
And as I expanded on victimless crime
Parading my own intellect

He laughed at the theatre of the absurd
'Til tears ran over his cheek
Linguistically choking and largely unheard
A million miles from unique

He said, "Let's get the show on the road, my friend
Let's get the show on the road
Even in the dark there's a light at the end
Now let's get the show on the road."

His world was a jumble of darkness and light
And, mixing the metaphor still
Hoping that one day his cavalry might
Come thundering over the hill

But that never happened. His life hit the skids
The last thing he mentioned to me
Was, "Don't ever martyr your wife or your kids
On the altar of your purity!

Now let's get the show on the road, my friend
Let's get the show on the road
Even in the dark there's a light at the end
Now let's get the show on the road."

And that was the moment the lucifer flared
The start of his firework show
A can full of gasoline, ready prepared
Was leaking out into the snow

And clear, in the light of his funeral pyre
Where everything seemed to explode
It came out of nowhere! A heavenly choir
Sang, "Let's get the show on the road!

Oh, let's get the show on the road, my friend
Let's get the show on the road
Even in the dark there's a light at the end
Now let's get the show on the road."