Golden Gate

Are you nostalgic for that time & place
or are you just depressed?
You've got nothing to confess.
The sky just opened up and you went flying to
that man in his tired skin and silver liar's tongue
in that San Francisco sun;
God swallowed up by clouds above the Golden Gate.
Red & gold & gray, he said "this fog hangs endlessly
above this masterpiece
so the people here can hide their sins from God."

"...so that we can all hide our sins from God..."

Your eyes were wide as dinner plates.
Bright & freshly cleaned, unspoiled & naive.
To taste the world I know you'd agree to anything.
In Paris you walked the river Seine & La Palais Garnier;
Sat with the ghost of Hemingway
at Les Deux Magots aux Saint Germain-des-prés.
And you thought the only price to pay is removing all your clothes
for his photographs, exposed.
Without knowing all you owed by accepting anything.

(did you know what you owed by accepting anything?)
(did you know what you'd owe for all that?)
NO!!

So how could you say no to him?
You're already in this deep;
With the Golden Gate looming
and the ocean at your feet.
That water's rising.
I say burn that bridge and kiss the salty river at her mouth
until your lips give out
and your innocence is floating down the bay.

(your innocence is floating on the bay)
(your innocence is floating on the bay)

"FLY TO ME AND LIVE FOREVER.
YOU'LL SEE THE WORLD.
YOU CAN TRUST IN ME."