The Party - Phil Ochs.mp3

[00:00.00] The Party
[00:15.15]Phil Ochs
[00:15.33]The fire breathing Rebels arrive at the party early,
[00:23.31]Their khaki coats are hung in the closet near the fur.
[00:31.02]Asking handouts from the ladies, while they criticize the lords.
[00:39.75]Boasting of the murder of the very hands that pour.
[00:46.71]And the victims learn to giggle, for at least they are not bored.
[00:54.57]And my shoulders had to shrug
[00:58.53]As I crawl beneath the rug
[01:01.47]And retune my piano.
[01:10.80]The Hostess is enormous, she fills the room with perfume,
[01:18.75]She meets the guests and smothers them with greetings.
[01:26.49]And she asks "how are you" as she offers them a drink,
[01:34.71]The Countess of the social grace, who never seems to blink.
[01:42.57]And she promises to talk to you, if you promise not to think.
[01:50.40]And my shoulders had to shrug, as I crawled beneath the rug
[01:57.78]And retuned my piano.
[02:06.63]The Beauty of the hour is blazing in the present,
[02:14.25]She surrounds herself with those who would surrender.
[02:23.22]Floating in the flattery she's a trophy-prize, caressed.
[02:30.45]Protected by a pretty face, sometimes cursed, sometimes blessed.
[02:38.04]And she's staring down their desires, while they're staring down her dress.
[02:45.90]And my shoulders had to shrug, etc.
[03:02.13]The egos shine like lightbulbs, so bright you cannot see them,
[03:10.08]Blind each other blinder than a sandbox.
[03:16.62]All the fury of an argument, holding back their yawns,
[03:24.21]A challenge shakes the chandliers, the selfish swords are drawn.
[03:31.20]To the loser go the hangups, to the victor go the hangers on.
[03:38.61]And my shoulders had to shrug, etc.
[03:53.70]They travel to the table, the host is served for supper,
[04:01.53]And they pass each other for salt and pepper.
[04:09.57]And the conversation sparkles as their wits are dipped in wine,
[04:18.42]Dinosaurs on a diet, on each other they will dine.
[04:25.44]Then they pick their teeth and they squelch a belch saying:
[04:30.00]"Darling you tasted divine."
[04:33.33]And my shoulders had to shrug, etc.
[04:51.06]The Wallflower is waiting, she hides behind composure.
[05:03.24]She'd love to dance and prays that no one asks her.
[05:17.97]Then she steals a glance at lovers while her fingers tease her hair.
[05:26.97]And she marvels at the confidence of those who hide their fears.
[05:34.89]Then her eyes are closed as she rides away with a foreign legionaire.
[05:42.66]And my shoulders had to shrug, etc.
[05:59.67]Romeo is reeling, counting notches on his thighbone,
[06:07.05]Searching for one hundred and eleven.
[06:13.74]And he's charming as a child as he leads them to the web,
[06:21.45]Seducing queens and gypsy girls in the boudoir of his head.
[06:28.50]Then he wraps himself with a tablecloth and pretends he is a bed.
[06:35.97]And my shoulders had to shrug, etc.
[06:51.69]The party must be over, even the Losers are leaving.
[06:59.67]But just one doubt is nagging at my caustic mind:
[07:07.23]So I snuck up close behind me and I gave myself a kiss,
[07:15.39]And I led myself to the mirror to expose what I had missed.
[07:23.37]There I saw a laughing maniac who was writing songs like this.
[07:31.44]And my shoulders had to shrug, etc.