One Man Band

Do you ever forgive
if you never forget?
Do you have enough time
to fill all the debts?
When you get down to me,
ready with a check to be made,
make it out to the one man band
dancing in his own parade

You think you want to confess
to what it is you done wrong
but you could never address
how I helped you along
And nothing ever is said
'cuz you don't know what to say
Just tell it all to the one man band
dancing in his own parade

Up in a lonely chateau,
you're living worse than the poor
It seems that you'll never know
who went and opened the door
Now trouble looks like a guest
leaning on the old balustrade
It left no room for the one man band
dancing in his own parade

You fight your way through the crowd
You push and shove to make peace
You think that by being proud,
the more respect you receive
But you forgot where you are—
In the middle of a long cavalcade
And at the front is the one man band
dancing in his own parade

There's no time for talking
You scream and yell to make peace
You think the louder you sing,
the more respect you receive
But your voice is struck mute
and no one hears your refrain
The only sound is the one man band
dancing in his own parade

When the battle is done,
the smoke beginning to fade
The only sound from the dogs
barking mad in the shade
A sallow-faced brigadier
still has his gun at the aim
He's pointing straight at the one man band
dancing in his own parade