Some Music For The Lonely And Cynical

One of the best of the previous century’s songwriters was the late Stan Rogers. Like the great Al Stewart, Rogers could take any subject and weave it into a song. His lyrics are poetry of an increasingly rare sort, though if called a poet, he probably would have demurred.

This one is for those desperate for love on any terms, and all those who, whatever their current status, have been “through the mill.”

That one behind you on the padded velvet throne
Don’t turn around! You’ve seen that kind before.

Wolves hang around here and they hunt the woods alone
Waiting for hearts to wander through the door.

This bar has changed now that the hunter’s hunted too
Who is the prey, and who is the hungry mouth?

Go talk with strangers, only nothing said is true.
It’s, “Who do you know?” and “When did you last fly south?”

And it’s drink bought to catch the eye and make intentions known
The kind they would never buy if they meant to drink alone

And it’s soft words that make the play in warm and winning tones
The kind words they’d never say if they dared to sleep alone

But like you, I’m fascinated by the glitter of the flame
Watching wolves steal half of a heart away
Watching wolves steal half of a heart away