Apollinaire

I went down to the Piraeus to catch the second show
Watching the crowd, I felt like a real wise guy
Then Rachel and Suzie came in and said, ah Johny
Don’t you want to go outside and go get high
Well I did but I didn’t because all of a sudden I got confused
I thought I’d just seen heading up the stairs
Smiling almost laughing to himself
The ghost of Apollinaire.

The lights dimmed and I went to get myself a drink
I felt like lying down though I wasn’t tired
Behind the bar the TV was showing last night’s news
It looked like half the city was on fire
“Hey change it” somebody said “put on the game”
But everything they showed had the rocket’s red glare
I couldn’t look away but I could see
The ghost of Apollinaire.

And the band was playing and a couple kids were dancing
But all I heard was a seashell roar
And the room began to fill with light until it felt
Like pushing your cart at the grocery store
And my tongue felt numb and suddenly I couldn’t talk
Laughing and scratching, crawling and gasping for air
And I looked around but I had somehow lost
The ghost of Apollinaire

I could see right through the ceiling and the stars were turning backwards
Trying to uncount the last hundred years
I dreamed I was at home in bed and everything was OK
It was just reflected through the barside mirror
I woke up and thought I was on stage playing in the band
And realized I was just sitting in a chair
Smiling almost laughing to myself
Like the ghost of Apollinaire.