I laid all my songs at Johnny Mathis' feet
I said, "Johnny, Johnny, tell me, won't you tell me how to live?
All my hopes are unraveling and I just lost my lease
On a house without love, doors or windows, without peace"
And with a wave of his jewel-encrusted hand
Across a glittering Las Vegas scene
He said, "You've got to learn how to disappear
In the silk and amphetamines"
Johnny looked at my songs, and he said, "Well, at first guess
Never in my life have I ever seen such a mess
Why do you say everything as if you were a thief?
Like what you stole has no value
And like what you preach is far from belief?"
And with a wave of his red, white and blue hand
Across a glittering Hollywood scene
He said, "You've got to learn how to disappear
In the silk and amphetamines"
Johnny looked at my collection of old punk rock posters
Anonymous scenes of disaffection, chaos and torture
And he said, "You are on the right track
But you are a lamb jumping for the knife
A real showman knows how to disappear in the spotlight"