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