My Hands Are On Fire

The Pauper's Prince in the mansion

Plans out his little game

While the chain gang outside

Wait for their chance at fame

"If it's carefully planned

lightning sure can strike twice,"

They say down in the pit

As they're throwing the dice

 

And he's warming up 

like a devil in an angel's choir

But he won't dance with you Maria

His hands are on fire

 

There is only a limited

amount of time,

for him to turn

this water into

wine,

So listen up kid

I've got nothing to say,

Except I'm not working

on this farm no more

whatever the pay

 

Stood there like a devil

in an angel's choir

I can't dance with you Maria

My hands are on fire

 

As the electric storm rages

there's a feedback squall

everyone's playing everybody else as a fool

The old man with the hearing aid

Can't make out a thing

While his son sees the betrayal

In the words that you sing

 

Singing like a devil

In an angel's choir singing

I can't dance with you Maria

My hands are on fire

 

So he fetches an axe

And he swings it in time

But the cable won't give

And they're standing in line

To take this dose of medicine

That's bitter and sweet

They pronounce him a traitor

And the lie is complete

 

He's singing like a devil

In an angel's choir

Singing: "I'd dance with you Maria but

My hands are on fire."

 

From the stage you can't make out the cheers for the booes 

He'd not afford their luxury if he was stood in their shoes

The announcer flounders fearing civil unrest

It's raining harmonicas that put this boy to the test

As death hands him a guitar from stage left somehow

Wiith a flourish he confirms that it's all over now.

 

But inside is he weeping like a devil in an angel's choir

He mumbles I'd dance with you Maria

but my hands are on fire

 

Now a new bid comes in

As the auctioneer grins

Put a price on a knife in the heart

And their counterfeit sins

As the light goes out we'll never know what was true

As he puts on a wig and false moustache too

 

And he's stood there like a devil

in an angel's choir

Still saying I'd dance with you Maria

But my hands are on fire