Parlor Magician.

Starters from Shayfer James’ “Counterfeit Arcade” album. Words in [ ] are interchangeable or optional

Weight of the World

“ The last man standing our sinister charade ” “ He nobly knelt before us ” “ He sang our savior’s chorus ” “ We left him spinning bloody plates upon his broken blade ” “ That’s just the weight of the world ” “ We do what we must to get by ” “ The weak and the weary will never survive ” “ We do what we must to stay alive ” “ We’ll all be the weak and the weary some time ” “ Preaching pain to every unsuspecting passerby ” “ We knew [her/him/them] well before this ” “ [He/she/they] promised portraits of us ” “ We cut [her/his/their] throat ” “ In the distance we’ll hear melancholy moans ” “ The long forgotten have a habit of collecting loans ”

For the Departed

“ Just a moment dear, I hear someone at the door ” “ The beating of a heart that I hid beneath the floor ” “ They’ve come for me, love ” “ Save yourself, I am far beyond repair ” “ They will bury me alive but I’m not inclined to care ” “ I am too far gone now ” “ Dry your eyes and count to ten ” “ They’ll have me on the pyre by then ” “ Forget the man I used to be, you’ll move along more easily ” “ A moment dear, I hear someone in the hall ” “ Plundering of promises we hung up on the wall ” “ They’ve come for us, love ” “ Save yourself, I am bitter to the bone ” “ I’m growing rather fond of the wondering alone ” “ Now I must finish what I started ” “ I’ll write a symphony for the departed ” “ I have no time for second chances ” “ I survive on bourbon, blood, and backward glances ” “ Your cries become the wind ” “ A desperate please best left unheard ” “ My contrived goodbye ” “ A poet’s pantomime ” “ A drunken jester’s final words ”

Where We Belong

“ There’s a mean storm coming ” “ Strong enough to cut you down ” “ There’s a war been waging ” “ Better get the children underground ” “ I know we’re far beyond the point of no return ” “ Let’s say we light a fire and be the first to burn ” “ Do you recall the day when we went wrong? ” “ Ease your weary mind, we’ll be alone ” “ Where the skies are grey, where we belong ” “ Where we belong ” “ There’s a freight train coming, barreling around the bend ” “ There’s a red light flashing ” “ Ladies and gentlemen this is the end ” “ I do believe that we’ve a lesson left to learn ” “ Take your seats, your salutations, and your turn ” “ On the way to our salvation we’ll be making plans ” “ Overthrow the king ” “ Pick apart the promised lands ”

L.V.S

“ Oh mighty warrior ” “ Oh fervent counselor ” “ Of palest eye you were, and cautious care ” “ Your laughter lingers on ” “ Where ever you have gone I’ll see you there ” “ The mountains bow before you ” “ The clouds are open wide ” “ Your lady waiting for you ” “ We, my friend, will met again ” “ Oh gentle guardian ” “ Oh perfect paladin ” “ Cheeks of a Cheshire grin and wisdom warm ”

Villainous Thing

“ Won’t you come inside? ” “ I fear the passing year did not deserve you ” “ By some devious design ” “ You’re very near, as I prefer you ” “ You have always been a delicate disaster ” “ Fine in fire and of frame ” “ Me and you are overdue for fiendish laughter ” “ Oh, dear, let me see those smokey eyes ” “ You’re a villainous thing ” “You’re a villainous thing and we can’t have you living a lie ” “ Oh, dear, let’s remove those pretty clothes ” “ You’re a villainous thing and I don’t think anyone knows ” “ Waste no worry for the world ” “ Let it be a tragedy of love and glory ” “ Waste no worry for the world, let it be a tragedy of love and glory ” “ While they wait by the gates of pearl, we’ll be building palaces in purgatory ” “ You’ll find no ever after here ” “ You’ll find no ever after here, it’s clear that isn’t what you came for ” “ It’s clear that isn’t what you came for ” “ I’ll be your puckish puppeteer ” “ This delightful little detour ”

Battle Cry

“ I stumbled out into the cold below a thoughtless moon ” “ I saw the phantoms of my friends, but they were gone too soon ” “ My enemies began to shout and shriek ” “ A silence overwhelmed them and I began to speak ” “ Hear my battle cry ” “ Hear that mighty sound ” “ They’ve come before and many more will try to strike me down ” “ Hear that might roar ” “ If you make it out alive, the Devil will be waiting by your door ” “ I met a stranger on my way to here from God knows where ” “ [He/She/They] won my lover in a dirty game of solitaire ” “ [He/She/They] stole my crown and placed it crookedly upon [his/her/their] head ” “ He turned around, I took him down ” “ You’ll sacrifice the truth to justify your sins, but I don’t need an excuse to let the darkness in ” “ You’ll sacrifice the truth to justify your sins ” “ I don’t need an excuse to let the darkness in ”

Peace

“ I’d rather live alone than live a lie ” “ I will never deserve peace ” “ There’s trouble in my bones, a frigid tide ” “ I spoke to the ghost on my way to sleep ” “ The boards in the floor called my footsteps a thief ” “ The air tasted ashes ”

Digging Up Hatchets

“ We’re digging up hatchets today and sharpening the blades ” “ We’re digging up hatchets ” “ A stitch of hope remains ” “ This Hell that we’ve raised ” “ We’re witnessing the waking of the dead ” “ We’re ripping all the wires from our heads ” “ We’re pumping all the poison from our veins ” “ Scrubbing out these wicked stains ” “ We’re burying mercy and grace in unmarked shallow graves ” “ The piper must be paid for the tune that he played ” “ Let us pause and be thankful for this evening and the fact that we’re breathing ” “ Maybe living has a meaning after all ” “ There’s a plan for us lunatics and lairs ” “ We have faulty gears and wires ” “ They can’t save us but they’ll do the best they can ”

Under the Willow

“ [Lover] weep for me no more ” “ I’ve been right here under the willow ” “ [Mother] I think I found my soul ” “ I’ve been the portrait of despair ” “ I’ve been the portrait of despair despite this hat and badge I wear ” “ I’ve been a captive and a coward ” “ Thunder shook me to the core ” “ I was hiding under the willow ” “ [Father] Punish me no more ” “ I met a wise man under the willow ” “ [Lover] look for me no more ” “ I’ve been a bastard and a fool ” “ Rewritten nearly every rule ” “ I believe I’m worth redemption ” “ I was sleeping under the willow ”

Goodspeed

“ Funny how it’s easier to see the forest for the trees when winter steals the leaves ” “ There’s many ways to hide a heart that bleeds ” “ There’s many ways to hide a heart that bleeds, but I prefer the ease of rolling up my sleeves ” “ You’ve got some nerve to be coming around with that smile on your face ” “ I used to be someone you could believe ” “ [But] It’s been a while ” “ You’ve got some nerve to be coming around with that card up your sleeve ” “ Those thorns in your crown ” “ Good luck, godspeed ” “ I know I’ll see you again ” “ Good luck, godspeed, I know I’ll see you again ” “ Funny how the night is not as long when you depend upon the dark before the dawn ” “ There’s many ways to right a thing that’s wrong ” “ You smile, you move along ” “ I prefer a song ” “ Let me not make mazes with words, let me be perfectly clear ” “ Let me not make mazes with words ” “ Let me be perfectly clear ” “ Get the Hell out of here ” “ Get yourself out of here ” “ I’ll always call you a friend indeed ”

Have a Seat Misery

contains spoilers! cw for abuse, medical abuse, violence

❝ you think you’re a good person. you’re not a good person. ❞

❝ trust me, there’s no such thing as good people. ❞

❝ i’ve been poor. it doesn’t agree with me. ❞

❝ it’s a goddamn nightmare. ❞

❝ i care for those who are in need of protection. ❞

❝ good news or bad news? ❞

❝ keep your eyes on the road. ❞

❝ don’t tease me. give me the details. ❞

❝ that lady right there, she’s my fucking hero. ❞

❝ i’m sorry to disturb you so early. ❞

❝ we can’t just sit by while people struggle. ❞

❝ i’m afraid it’s not up to you —or me— to decide. ❞

❝ i’m afraid you might be in some trouble. ❞

❝ i don’t believe this is happening. ❞

❝ don’t touch me! ❞

❝ yeah, i’d fuckin’ fight. ❞

❝ at heart, most of us are weak. compliant. scared. ❞

❝ and remember, i’m on your side ❞

❝ could you open the door so i can get some air? ❞

❝ i don’t understand. ❞

❝ these days, these rare days that we get to spend together, are a blessing for me. ❞

❝ even sadistic, immoral assholes get old. ❞

❝ so how did this happen? ❞

❝ i just need five minutes of your time, please. it’s very important. ❞

❝ i think there’s been a mistake. ❞

❝ that’s simply not true. you know it, i know it. ❞

❝ you saw an opportunity and you grabbed it. ❞

❝ is that a threat? ❞

❝ let’s just say… you’ll not be comfortable or uncomfortable, ever again. ❞

❝ ____ is in need of my protection. how can i just abandon her? ❞

❝ in the days to come, you’ll replay this conversation in your head over and over. you’re gonna wish you’d played it differently. ❞

❝ you know how many times i’ve been threatened by a man? thousands. you know how many of ‘em ever came to anything? ❞

❝ i’m the worst mistake you’ll ever make. ❞

❝ that’s the exact opposite of what’s happening here— ❞

❝ about fucking time! ❞

❝ i am prepared to kill you to get out of here. are you prepared to die to stop me?❞

❝ want a doughnut? ❞

❝ it used to be a thing, for a second. ❞

❝ i don’t want you to get shot in the head, and i don’t wanna get shot in the head, either.❞

❝ i don’t lose. i won’t lose. ❞

❝ you’re gonna die in here. alone, and in terrible pain. ❞

❝ what happened? oh my god! are you okay? ❞

❝ i don’t like you. ❞

❝ you know, you remind me of someone i knew when i was younger. ❞

❝ don’t underestimate me. ❞

❝ it says that on your business card? ❞

❝ are you gonna make another big fucking speech? ❞

❝ you stole something from me. ❞

❝ i don’t like being angry. i much prefer to be calm. ❞

❝ do you know who i am? ❞

❝ well, to make it in this country you need to be brave. and stupid, and clever, and ruthless. ❞

❝ i wanna be rich. i wanna be very fucking rich. ❞

❝ i want enough money to use as a weapon. to use as a bludgeon, the way real rich people do. ❞

❝ you hold no cards. ❞

❝ i’ll give you fifty dollars if you let me make a call on your cell. ❞

❝ i thought you were dead. ❞

❝ how are you feeling? ❞

❝ say the word, and we’re gone. ❞

❝ do you have a plan? will it work? ❞

❝ there you are. how are feeling? ❞

❝ you wanna hear an interesting fact? ❞

❝ i know you don’t like losing, but i suggest you swallow your pride. ❞

❝ i’d like to propose an alternative. ❞

❝ are you fucking with me? ❞

❝ you’re a rare person, ____. ❞

❝ your determination — well, frankly it’s scary. ❞

❝ how do we trust each other? ❞

❝ ask yourself: what am i willing to sacrifice to achieve my dreams? what lines will i not cross? ❞

❝ don’t try to be anyone else. just know who you are and use that to your advantage. ❞

cautious eyes looked to the man, one hand holding closer, tighter to her backpack as the other drew her coat in nearer. chocolate and cookies? for a STRANGER?  this man must be mad! still food was food…. she’d just have to keep her sense aware.

“ c’mon -”  HE GESTURES  to the house behind and above him, sprawling in width and height, at least three floors.  “ look at this big heap of wood - do i look like i need money?  don’t give another thought about that, kiddo, just come inside. ”