Franklin Shepard, Inc.

Now, tell me, how do you two work together?
Oh, may I answer that?
Please
How do we work together?
Sure

He goes
And I go
And soon we're humming along, hmm
And that's called writing a song, hmm
Then he goes
And I go

And the phone goes "Brring!"
And he goes
"Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter, yes, Jerome
Mutter, no, Jerome
Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter"
That's his lawyer, Jerome
"Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter
Do it, Jerome"
Click
"Sorry, Charley"

So I go
And he goes
And I go
And soon we're tappin' away, hmm

Bzz!
"Sorry, Charley"
Bzz, secretary!
Bzz, on the intercom!
"Yes, Ms. Bizz?"
"It's a messenger!"
"Thanks, Ms. Bizz
Will you tell him to wait?
Will you order the car?
Will you call up the bank?
Will you wire the coast?
Will you-"

Brring!
"Sorry, Charley
Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter
Sell the stock, mutter, buy the rights
Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter"
Bzz!
"Let me put you on hold," bzz!

"Yes, Ms. Bizz?"
"It's the interview!"
"Thanks Ms. Bizz
Will you tell him to wait?
Will you wire the car?
Will you order the coast?
Will you send up the bank?"

And the telephones blink
And the stocks get sold
And the rest of us he keeps on hold
And he's into making movies
And he's now a corporation, right?

So, I play at home
With my wife and kids
And I wait to hear the movie bids
And I've got a little sailboat
And I'm into meditation, right!

He flies off to California
I discuss him with my shrink
That's the story of the way we work
Me and Franklin Shepard, Inc

Now, when you do work together, I've always been curious
Which generally comes first, the words or the music?
Generally, the contract
Ah, well sounds like you think making money is a bad thing for an artist

Money?
Did I say money?
No, I like money a lot, hmm
I mean, it's better than not, hmm
But when it's
Money
Money
When you're into
Money
And you should be

Listen, Frank does the money thing very well
But you know what?
Other people do it better
And Frank does the music thing very well
And you know what?
No one does it better

Still, the telephones blink
And the buzzers buzz
And I really don't know what he does
But, he makes a ton of money
And a lot of it for me, right?

So, I think "Okay"
And I start a play
And he somehow knows
'Cause right away it's brring!

"Hiya buddy, wanna write a show?
Got a great idea, we'll own all the rights
With a two week out, and a turnaround
On the guarantee plus a gross percent of the billing clause"

And there I am in California
Talking deals and turning pink
Back in business and I mean just that
Back with Franklin Shepard, Inc

Very sneaky how it happens
Much more sneaky than you think
Start with nothing but a song to sing
Next you're Franklin Shepard

Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute
I'm getting in a little too deep here
(Franklin, let me ask you)
See, the thing is, Frank and I are not that kind of close anymore, not like we used to be
(Now, Frank)
And friendship is like a garden
You have to water it, you have to tend it, you have to care about it, or you lose it
And I miss it
And I want it back

Look, nothing permanent has happened
Just a temporary kink
Friendship's something you don't really lose

Ladies and gentleman, don't let me lose the greatest composer any lyricist ever had
Phone him, write him, stop him on the street, you'll recognize him
He's the one going through his checkbook
And tell that man to get back to his piano

Very sneaky how it happens
Every day you're on the brink
First the prizes, then the interviews

Oh my god, I think it's happened
Stop me quick before I sink
One more triumph that I can't refuse

In case you didn't notice, this is my first time on TV
And my last

No, here's the point, whatever happens
Then we'll all go have a drink
That's the guy I love, the fella who's
Inside

"Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter
Quick, Jerome
Get the President!
There's a crazy man on my TV screen"
Inside
Bzz, bzz. brring!
Inside
Franklin Shepard
Just write him care of any bank, U.S.A
Inc!