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The Ballad of Tarzan Presley

from the lines are open by The Close Readers

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about

In memory of Nigel Cox. Man, I miss him. Read his stuff!

lyrics

THE BALLAD OF TARZAN PRESLEY

Get up at 5am
before the house begins
put in two good hours
breakfast and then a shower
kiss the kids and promise your wife
it’ll be all right

Berlin’s beautiful and messy
as the snow begins to melt
and you’ve written Tarzan Presley
soon the world will know

The agent rings at night
says don’t get too excited
you say you understand
but your feet are leaving the ground
you’re on your way
might happen today
or tomorrow

Pick out the Merc you want
from the place on your way to work
laugh with the jerk who says
Hey’d you forget to shave?
You’ve got a secret
You can hardly keep it
To yourself

Berlin’s open and it’s sexy
And the sun is almost there
You’re toasting Tarzan Presley
In a garden of German beer

Then the emails stop
They’ve put their hands in their pockets
You’re trying hard not to panic
Both sides of the Atlantic
Maybe you won’t get that Merc
You’ll have to work with that jerk
Your son cries out in the night
And you go to his side
What is wrong? What is always wrong
With this song?

Berlin’s dark and it’s ugly
And the tress drip down your neck
But you’re the author of Tarzan Presley
What else did you expect?

Wake at 5am
Start a new book then
Cos they’re queuing up
Fuckers don’t write themselves
Kiss your kids
And tell your wife
She’s your life

Berlin’s hazy and it’s distant
Did you ever live there?
In my copy of Tarzan Presley
You wrote ‘Happy days and see you there’
Happy days and see you there
Happy days and see you there

credits

from the lines are open, released November 12, 2014

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The Close Readers Wellington, New Zealand

Formed in 2010, this band records the songs of New Zealand fiction writer Damien Wilkins.

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