Stars

I was never one for singing

what I really feel

except tonight, I'm bringing

everything I know that's real

Stars, they come and go

They come fast or slow

They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze

And all you see is glory

Hey, but it gets lonely there,

when there's no one here to share

We can shake it away, if you'll hear a story

People lust for fame.

Like athletes in a game,

we break our collarbones and come up swinging

Some of us are downed.

Some of us are crowned

and some are lost and never found

But most have seen it all

They live their lives in sad cafes and music halls

They always have a story

Some make it when they're young,

before the world has done its dirty job

And later on, someone will say -

“You've had your day. “You must make way”

But they'll never know the pain

in living with a name you never owned,

or the many years forgetting

what you know too well

That the ones who gave the crown

have been let down

You try to make amends,

without defending

Perhaps pretending you never saw the eyes

of grown men of twenty-five,

that followed as you walked, and asked for autographs

or kissed you on the cheek -

and you never could believe they really loved you

Some make it when they're old.

Perhaps they have a soul they're not afraid to bare

or perhaps there's nothing there

Stars, they come and go

They come fast or slow

They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze

And all you see is glory

Hey, but it gets lonely there,

when there's no one here to share

We can shake it away, if you'll hear a story

Some women have a body men will want to see

so they put it on display

Some people play a fine guitar.

I could listen to them play all day

Some ladies really move across a stage

and gee, they sure can dance

I guess I could learn how, if I gave it half a chance

But I always feel so funny when my body tries to soar

And I always seem to worry about missing the next chord

I guess there isn't anything to put out on display

except the tunes, and whatever else i say

And anyway, that isn't really what I meant to say...

I meant to tell a story I live from day to day

Stars, they come and go

They come fast or slow

They go like the last light of the sun,

all in a blaze,

and all you see is glory

But those who've seen it all

live out their lives in sad cafes and music halls

We always have a story

So if you don't lose patience

with my fumbling around

I'll come up singing for you

even when I'm down

• Artist:Janis Ian