The Great Routine!

from The Great Routine! by Briar Rabbit

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lyrics

An actor in the mirror is darkening his face down
to a character with burnt cork and a rag
Laughs at his expense have always covered his expenses
Well it's the only thing he knows and the best he'll ever have

Bright lights, his name announced, a house full of excitement
Once upon a time those were his dreams
The worst is he understands it's all counterfeit
He's the saddest man I know and the funniest they've ever seen

Watch him stumble, dance and sing
The audience laughs. It's so obscene
His stuttering is all routine
But his heart is just as broken as his speech

He's waiting on his chaperone to take him to the bar
of a theatre he's sold out for years
He could buy one hundred rounds
But it wouldn't take the edge off
of the only dance that makes a whole crowd cheer

For the minstrels final act
He hangs himself from the rafters
Silence falls, nobody laughs
It was the blackest comedy they'd ever seen

credits

from The Great Routine!, released February 2, 2011
Guitar and Vocals: Phillip-Michael Scales
Lead Guitar: Devon Clarke Geyer
Bass: Annie Hoffman
Drums: Adam Hand
Piano: Josh Moshier
Tap Dancing: Jumaane Taylor "The Bearded Hoofer"
Percussion: De'mar Hamilton
Backing Vocals: Hannah Shefsky
Organ: Anna Silverstein

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about

Briar Rabbit Chicago, Illinois

A 2013 International Songwriting Competition winner & B.B. King's Nephew, Briar Rabbit believes pop music and intelligent lyrics are not mutually exclusive

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