The Haunted Phonograph

I curse the day I bought that phonograph for

You, my dear

For there are times I swear that it's alive

I chase at night the whispering from the music

Room so clear

But I'm mocked with silent scorn when I arrive

I try to play Caruso but the needle skips the

Groove

While calypso and Ravel keep coming back

And there beside that damned machine, you lie

And never move

I'm cuckolded by metal and shellac

It comes to me in dreams and it declares "I'm

Joan of Arc—

You can burn me, but I've power from above!"

But I fear it's not a dream, and you'll be

Swallowed in its darkness

It will one day speak your words for you, my love

I tried to throw it out but back again the

Trashmen came

They were ashen white like they'd seen Father

Death

And they told me that it cried aloud and spoke

To them by name

So they returned it, ran, and prayed under their

Breath

And every night I long to coax you from that

Phonograph

But it's drained the appetites I once fulfilled

Its gaping mouth, obscene and wide, turns every

Tune to laughter

And its arm, it waves commands to have me killed

It comes to me in dreams and it declares "I'm

Joan of Arc—

You can burn me, but I've power from above!"

But I fear it's not a dream, and you'll be

Swallowed in its darkness

It will one day speak your words for you, my love

And now that you've gone deaf to every word

That I could say

I'm reaching out the only way you'll hear

I beg into a microphone for you to turn my way

And with my voice on wax, my body disappears!

So play me on your phonograph and swear that I'll

Be yours

Though your heart and voice can nevermore be

One/won

Just drag that needle on me as I spin my loving

Course

Dreaming only of your kiss

All the charms of yours I miss

As I pop and as I hiss

Spiraling into the abyss

Oh my God, it's come to this

We've been undone!

Put another record on

Play that music all night long

And by the break of dawn

We'll be in love