When Sal’s Burned Down

[Verse 1]

Are we the fools for being surprised

That a silence could end with no sound

Like the silent movie era, like with snow

Like when Sal's burned down

Well, yeah, there was noise, but nothing to mark the passing on

Of that great unspoken chance we had found

Where the night's end came, well-trod and familiar

Like the Charlie Chapin walk that fades to black

And there wasn't anyone trying to sell their souls

They were only trying to buy them back

Well, yeah, there was a Sal

He walked with bulging pockets 'round town

Either he was up to no good

Or he just got excited watching things burn down

Well I guess he got the idea

If you hold a chunk of gold in your hand now

For once in your life you can throw some weight around

And Sal, you slimeball sell-out, how can we blame you?

We all want something to put our fingers on

And you never know the true throne that you've lost

'Til the vinyl barstools are gone

If you toss around some words you might say that

Sal was carrying a torch for the mob

But the mob's gone too, yeah, the only sign of them left

Is on every screen at the multiplex, and we go there, no prob, hey

'Cause there ain't no cowboys in this Connecticut town

No, not anymore, no, not since Sal's burned down

Once you'd dip your tin cup down in the muse's watering hole

Or pioneer a new patch of common ground

Then you'd lie on your time-traveled bedroll

Quite amazed at the expansive terrain

And if anyone said that you'd never have fame and fortune

Just that bar

You know you'd ride that way again

I bet you'd ride that way again