M. Shepard - Live

The stage is set to rip the wings from the butterfly
(The stage is set)
The stage is set
Don't forget to breathe between the lines
If the whole world dies
Then it's safe to take the stage
And these graves will stretch like landing strips
Hospitals, all the dead museums
We won't have to be afraid anymore
The crowd is growing silent with the gathering storm

When the curtain falls and we're caught on the other side
Trying to keep up the act
We'll lie in the back of black cars
With the windows rolled up
Joining the precession of emptiness

If we say these words
It's too late to take them back
So we hold our breath and we fold our hands
Like paper planes (and we're going to crash)
We don't have to be alone ever again
There's a riot in the theater
Someone's standing in the aisles
Yelling that the murderers are everywhere
And they are lining up
Carving the M in your side
Stand alone (This time)

When the curtain falls and we're caught on the other side
Trying to keep up the act
We'll lie in the back of black cars
With the windows rolled up
Joining the precession of emptiness

The stage is set to rip the wings from the butterfly

Pull the curtain back
Kill all the house lights
Pin the dress with lotus flowers
Silk is spinning round and around
With the ceiling fan
I'm disappearing into the spotlight
I'm on display
With the butterfly and the scarecrow

With smiles like picket fences
You tie us all up and leave us outside
That voice is silent now and the boat has sunk
We're on our own but we're not going to run

(Spoken) Alright, this is the last song on this record, um
It's a really uh -- sometimes I think about this song landing as the
Last song on this record without its partner that was supposed to be
On this record, too, but ended up on the EP before it
And I think it's like, really weird to just get the second half of a
Story but it- whatever, it's the way it is, um
This song is a, it's sort of a festive song
It's about New Year's Day and it's about after having a
Terrible fucking year- a shitty, terrible year- uh, the reminder that
You don't have to be who you are today tomorrow
You know when it gets dark and you think
"Fuck, I should just fucking kill myself 'cause life is terrible,"
Just trying to remember tomorrow, I won't be the same me that I am now
Like fuck this, I'm gonna get through it
This is the closest thing to a message of hope on this record
It's called Tomorrow Will Be You