Come with me to a middle American hamlet at the turn of the century. See the lines of homesteaders before the snake oil cart. See the charlatan selling cheap wares that he knows are worthless. Watch him pack up to bleed the next town dry singing Now You See Me, Now You Don’t.
lyrics
NOW YOU SEE ME, NOW YOU DON’T (Franklin)
Here’s another dusty country town…
Just like the one before and the one to come.
Got this simple way of living life… well,
Maybe not when I’m done.
I’m the tug at your shoulder, the voice in your head,
I’m the little black widow underneath your bed,
I’ve been through your closets, know your skeletons well,
And frankly I’m offended by some of the stories they tell.
I’m the way, the truth, the life, high class livin’
I’m the ‘our father’ to the unforgiven.
I’ve got elixirs, snake oils, potions and creams
To soothe your fears and steer your dreams
Step right up, sir! Take your pick! Satisfaction guaranteed!
Slinging smoke and mirrors, I’ll bamboozle you with choices
And when I deploy my decoys, you won’t notice
That the choice was never really your own.
Now you see me, now you don’t.
I didn’t know there’d be so many…
Hope I brought enough supplies
Gazes fixed on my countless curios
Money bleeding from their eyes…
Now here’s a heartbroken mademoiselle
One finger on the trigger, one foot in hell
Here’s the preacher, the showgirl, a dozen marines
Jonesing for a few of their favorite things
They could take the high road, pass me by,
But they never ever do, never even try.
Common decency crumbles beneath my feet,
Then I blend into the shadow of a memory….
Step right up ma’am, what’s your wish? Oh no.. I won’t tell a soul.
Chorus
And when the evening comes, and I sit down to count the wages,
The patrons’ faces almost make me doubt,
But I’ve forgotten any other way. Is there any other way?
Aw…. Forget it…
Slinging smoke and mirrors, I’ll bamboozle you with choices
And when I deploy my decoys, you won’t notice
That the choice was never really your own.
I’m right behind you when you think you’re alone.
It’s closing time, but here’s one for the road.
Now you see me, now you don’t.
credits
from The Best Ride Of Your Life,
released September 23, 2015
NOW YOU SEE ME, NOW YOU DON’T (Franklin)
Drums, Shakers, Glockenspiel – Mark Keefer
Guitar, Banjo Bass, Resonator Guitar, Banjo, Mandocello, Toy Piano, Milk Jug – Dan Franklin
Dan Franklin is a Los Angeles based singer/producer/songwriter/composer/multi-
instrumentalist.
As a multi-instrumental performer, he’s spanned every genre, playing with everyone from Slash to Leann Rimes on every stage from Disneyland to the Grand ‘Ole Opry. In addition to playing well with others, Dan also plays in the duo ‘Dan and Leland’....more
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