Glenn Cardier - Lyrics

Rattle The Cage Lyrics

Ringmaster Blues
(Glenn Cardier) © Elbow Room

You didn’t wanna believe it,
But you knew deep down in your heart -
That slowly but surely
The circus was falling apart -
Well, you tried and you tried
To put it off as long as you could -
But that never did any good -
Now they’re shuttin’ you down
Just like they said they would.

Angel the Acrobat
Cursed you under her breath -
Happy the Clown
Called you an asshole and left –
Nothing you could say
Would be what they wanted to hear -
Realizing all of your fears
With the Big Top collapsing
Down ’round your ears.

Well, there once was a time
When they’d all come from miles around -
And they’d hip-hip-hurrah
When the circus would roll into town -
You had fire-eaters,
And Indian elephant rides -
You had all such exotic delights -
What you didn’t have was time on your side.

What good is anger
When you got nothin’ to blame?
What good is a lion-tamer
When you got no lions to tame?
You had a brass band playing
Like their lives depended on it -
But one day they all up and quit -
And you said it don’t hurt, not one little bit.

You had things you don’t often see
In the everyday world
Like the guy in the blindfold
Throwing knives at the beautiful girl -
It was the greatest show on earth!
To be perfectly frank
You had one act that stank -
You couldn’t jump through the hoops
For the guys at the bank -

You had travelled on
Through the fires and the floods –
You were once the ringmaster
And the circus run in your blood -
From the north to the south,
From the east to the west -
You were better than all the rest –
Now that’s all in the past,
Well, that’s show-biz I guess.

Tomorrow’s Another Day
(Glenn Cardier) © Elbow Room

What’s up? What’s that?
What’s that shakin’ the foundations?
Sky on fire, rain burnin’ -
Whole world turnin’ upside down -
I hear the sound of someone screamin’,
Someone screamin’, and I aint kiddin’ -
Things are gettin’ pretty vicious -
But the hors d’oeuvres are deee-licious.

What’s that, what’s that you say?
Tomorrow’s another day.

Wild night, cyclonic -
What’s next? Well, the roof’s gone missin’ -
Was that the sound of bullets whistlin’?
Almost lost my gin and tonic -
Round the ruins we went walkin’ -
It was all singin’, all dancin’ -
Then some comedian came on wisecrackin’ -
But I missed the punch line,
I was talkin’.

What’s that, what’s that you say?
Tomorrow’s another day.
Ha ha!

Dorothy’s gone, dunno where -
Dorothy’s gone, never said nothin’,
Never said nothin’ just left us here -
Left us in a spin, in a whirlwind,
She disappeared into thin air -
What’s it all comin’ to?
What the hell we gonna do?
Dorothy’s gone, dog’s gone too.

What’s that, what’s that you say?
Tomorrow’s another day.
Ha ha ha!

Don’t lose it, you can do it -
You can do it, it’s ok -
I’ll be yawnin’, I’ll be scratchin’,
I’ll be watchin’ the clock tick over -
That’s when the walls come down crashin’ -
You can do it, it’s ok -
I’ll wander off in the general direction
Of the bathroom, and on my journey
I’ll contemplate the curtains burnin’,
Hmmm -
It’s ok, it‘s ok.
And I’ll never even cut myself shavin’ -
And I’ll concentrate on doin’ up my buttons -
And I’ll have a revelation that I might go shoppin’
To buy somethin’ else that’s not worth havin’ -
Somethin’ else that’s not worth havin’ -
Not worth havin’ -
Not worth havin’-
Buy somethin’ else that’s not worth havin’ -
Hee hee hee! Ha ha ha!

The Best Of It
(Glenn Cardier) © Elbow Room

I had the deepest sleep -
I did not dream at all -
At least, I don't think I did -
If I did, I don't recall -
Sometimes, that's all you need -
Just sleep and nothing more -
With no added complications
Like dreams and creaking doors -
And it all falls into place
And it’s as good as it can get, oh yeah -
Sometimes, it all works out
Every piece a perfect fit -
Sometimes we just get by
And make the best of it.

Drove the car around the block
To pass the time away-
Negotiated every turn
In an effortless display -
I was missing things by inches -
I could've left 'em all for dead -
But with not one bit of damage done
I quit while I was ahead -
And it all falls into place
And it’s as good as it can get, oh yeah -
Sometimes, it all works out
Every piece a perfect fit -
Sometimes, we just get by
And make the best of it.

I loved you, I embraced you -
I loved you more than words could say -
Oh, but there were times, it must be said,
We got in each other's way

Love Song
(Glenn Cardier) © Elbow Room

And I will try to get it right -
Measure the distances, high and wide -
And I will play the architect
As if my calculations are correct.
Just what is it about you?
Just what is it about the things you do?

And at last, I see it here;
See it here, with all of its complexities
It’s clear -
It’s written in the heavens high above -
And the obvious solution,
The inevitable conclusion is that it’s love.

Try to find what it’s about -
Albert Einstein could not work it out -
Aristotle, Socrates -
Stephen J. Hawking’s way too deep for me -
Just what is it? I can’t say -
Just what is it makes me feel this way?

And at last…

It’ll take some exploration
Of the colour of your eyes
Or a close investigation
Of the way you look tonight.

And at last…

Rust in the Tailfin
(Glenn Cardier) © Elbow Room

Rust in the tailfin, trust in the Lord -
Rain in the headlights, lost in the storm -
Swing low, sweet Cadillac, flat to the board -
Rust in the tailfin, trust in the Lord.

Rust in the tailfin, faith in the night -
Dust in the chromework, fire in the sky -
Tore up the highway at a hundred or more -
Rust in the tailfin, trust in the Lord.

Swing low, sweet Cadillac -
Swing low, swing low;
Carry me back there; carry me home.

Sing 'Hi yo, silver - hi yo, hi yo!'
Life is a wheelspin at the edge of the road -
Caught in a whirlwind; she rocked and she rolled -
Rust in the tailfin, trust in the Lord.

I saw a rebel walk from the wreck -
I saw an angel in a pretty red dress;
I saw a Bible by the side of the bed -
It had an inscription, this was what it read...

Rust in the tailfin, trust in the Lord...

Shing-a-ling
(Glenn Cardier) © Elbow Room

She's a hipshake earthquake, na na na na -
Hipshake earthquake, na na na na -
Well she move, groove, got nothin to prove -
She's a dancefloor heartbreak, na na na na -

Well, I was hardluck bedrock, na na na na
Three-block gridlock, na na na na -
I was down, down, she come around now
I'm a Casanova bigshot, na na na na -

Shake it up, babe, shake it up now -
Shake it up, babe, shing-a-ling-a-ling -
Well, I love it when you shake,
When you shake that thing!

She's a redhot honeypot, na na na na -
Redhot honeypot. na na na na -
S'alright, right up all night -
I'm her bloodshot forget-me-not, na na na

I was a humpback sadsack, na na na na -
Humpback sadsack, na na na na -
Then it was uh wow, whatcha doin'?
Now I'm a slapstick crack-a-jack na na na

She's a payday everyday na na na na -
Payday everyday na na na na -
Oh she loves love, Lordy up above -
She's a this-a-way, that-a-way na na na na -

It was a stinkpot backlot, na na na na -
Stinkpot backlot, na na na na -
Then it was wham, bam, dunno where I am
Now it's a Camelot beauty-spot na na na na

Close Encounter (With A UFO)
(Glenn Cardier) © Elbow Room

I had a close encounter with a UFO,
UFO, UFO -
I had a close encounter with a UFO -
Didn't tell nobody though.

It come outa the sky, don't know why,
Don't know why, don't know why -
Come crashin' down in my backyard -
I was eatin' a sandwich at the time.

It was a situation I did not like
A flying saucer had just busted my bike -
Then a funny little guy poked his head outside,
He said, 'Scuse me where the hell am I?'

Well, he looked at me and I looked at him
And he looked at me and I looked at him -
I said why do you look like a parking meter?
He said, 'I don't know why and I don't care either.'

I had a close encounter with a UFO.....

He said he had a message from outer space -
He had the secret to eternal happiness -
Would I like to hop inside, take a little ride?
And maybe spread the word to the human race!'

I said, 'No thanks, that's ok!
That's ok! Thanks anyway!'
He said, 'You wouldn’t know what happiness was like!'
I said, 'I'd be happier if you hadn't busted my bike!'

So he took off, he said 'Adios!'
I said, 'Adios!' He said, 'Adios!'
Left me standin' here to count the cost -
Everything went back to the way it was.

I had a close encounter with a UFO.....

She Flew Away
(Glenn Cardier) © Elbow Room

She flew away up to the moon -
She just up and left, one afternoon -
She turned the TV up loud as it could get
After she set fire to the kitchenette -
She clicked her heels as she left the ground
And she saw her dreams scattered all around -

& they wondered why - just what it was
That made her try to touch the stars -
She flew away up to the moon -
She just up and left, one afternoon.

She wore a gown of baby blue
& her hair teased up, & her high-heel shoes -
She left the photographs lying where they fell;
She left the casserole on the wall as well -
& they wondered why, as they shook their heads,
Why she would take off just like she did.
She flew away with a biscuit tin,
The one she kept her secrets in.

& she laughed aloud as she landed there,
& she danced all night, she was light as air
& she sang a song about a little girl
Who never ever had a worry in the world.

& they wondered why - just what it was
That made her try to touch the stars -
She flew away up to the moon -
She just up and left, one afternoon.

Rattle the Cage
(Glenn Cardier) © Elbow Room

Not much to do down here in the zoo -
Now the walls are grey and the food is too -
Well, it's just gone three but the clock struck four -
I don't really think that I can take it no more -
You gotta rattle the cage -
Rattle the cage and let the big beast roar.

Y'know I woulda thought that it was tough enough
But they keep dishin' up the same old stuff -
If you buy this miracle you get one free -
It's the same for you, it's the same for me -
You gotta rattle the cage -
Rattle the cage and let the big beast roar.

Shatter the windows, kick at the door -
I said, hey there neighbour
Just couldn't take it no more.

Just one shot is what you need
But you couldn’t get a kick in a stampede -
You’re a princess kissin’ the wrong frogs -
You’re the only tree left standin’
In a street full of dogs -
And you’re staring at the bars
And you’re wonderin’ who you are -

You gotta rattle the cage…

Not much to do down here in the zoo -
Lie back in the bed-bunk, think about you -
It's a big, big city and it never sleeps -
It just makes promises that it can't keep -
Where the winners lose, cos the losers win -
And you can't go out but you can't stay in -
Look up at the lightbulb for somethin' to do -
Not much to do down here in the zoo, the zoo.

You gotta rattle the cage -
Rattle the cage and let the big beast roar.

You are the sigh of violins
Drifting on the faintest breeze -
You are the laughter overheard
At the wedding of childhood sweethearts -
You are the longest, lonely night;
You are the love of my life.

Tell me that I don't exist -
Tell me there's no time for this -
You are the scars upon my wrist -
You kiss me once, then close the door -
And I keep comin' back for more;
You are the love of my life.

Well, y'know I wouldn't want to change a thing -
I wouldn't want to change a thing -
Oh, if I had to do it all again,
You know that I would fall again -
Wouldn't want to change a thing

Meet me in some perfect place
Where all impossibilities
Will disappear without a trace
Where I'll completely understand -
Where there is every chance you'll be
The love of my life.

Well, y'know I wouldn't want to change a thing…

Oh, you think I could have worked it out -
You think I would have learnt by now -
But I wouldn't want to change a thing

Palm trees swayin’
In the breeze of a ceiling fan –
Hawaiian music playin’
Through an old tin can –
Bartender’s got this flower
Stuck behind his ear –
He says, ‘Well, what the hell –
It’s a livin’.’

And there’s a cold wind in the city –
And the rain keeps comin’ down -
And there’s only one bar open
On the darkest street in town –
Used to be a rundown place
That wasn’t worth a damn -
Now the sign says ‘Welcome
To the Hawaiian Sands.’

The Hawaiian sands -
Now the sign says ‘Welcome
To the Hawaiian Sands.’

And every now and then
I look up from my beer –
And I take in my surroundings;
Like that scene on the wall over there -
Where everybody’s got some kinda grass skirt on
And they’re laughin’ and wavin’ their hands
And dancin’ under a volcano
In a far-off land.

The Hawaiian sands -
Now the sign says ‘Welcome
To the Hawaiian Sands.’

Love, love, sweet love -
She's a rare bird flyin' -
High up in the sky,
Circlin' around -
I heard the song
Of a rare bird singin' -
Never flyin' away,
But never comin' down.

It's the finest thing
That you ever did see -
When she's flyin' high,
When she's flyin' free -
In a clear, blue sky
She will sail forever -
I guess that's just the way
The way it's meant to be.

I found a love -
Such a thing of beauty -
Never let it go -
Kept it locked away -
& all through the night,
Y'know she shone so brightly -
But the song she sang
Was never quite the same.

It's the finest thing...

Love, love, sweet love -
She's a rare bird flyin' -
You unlock the door,
You turn your face away -
Now, now she's gone
You watch her disappearing -
But you hope and pray
Someday you’ll hear that song again.

Strike up the band!
Bang on the drum, join in the dance -
Come see the sideshow once again -
You'll ride on horses made of wood -
Your money's good.
Just step inside!
Though you may not believe your eyes -
You'll laugh so hard that you could cry -
The seven wonders of this earth;
Your money's worth.

Sideshow alley!
Don't you love the noise, the ballyhoo?
Yes, you do -
You'll take home a miracle or two.

You'll see it all!
You'll see the weird and wonderful -
Where painted pictures are the walls -
Don't be afraid, you will be fine -
Just wait in line.

Sideshow alley!
Round and round the rows of coloured lights,
The strangest sights -
You will see them all here tonight.

Where the absurd and the bizarre
Enchant you underneath the stars -
Where the disfigured and grotesque
Will pas de deux and arabesque -
It's got to be
The grandest place you've ever seen -
It's made from half-forgotten dreams
And pages torn from storybooks -
Come take a look.

Sideshow alley!