Everybody plays the mime

They say that good is too often the enemy of the best 
I think of Peter in his cowboy vest 
Under the Marble Arch way down in the square 
He was yelling at the mimes for them to beware 
He said “you’re nothing so precious, you’re nothing so rare 
You’re quite common I can see you everywhere 
I see you in my church when you mime your prayers 
You’re wearing pearls and your hair is grayer” 

Hey everybody plays the mime sometimes 

Are you married to an unfaithful world where you carry the flags if they come unfurled? 
Are you locked into a projection booth that shows the films of your troubled youth? 

Hey everybody plays the mime sometimes 

So don’t start to pout or I will take you to task 
Your sailor stripes and your white powder mask 
You mimic the wino with the silver flask 
It’s the transient child and his eyes that you lack 
Your world is a tundra so painfully, painfully bare 

Are you married to an unfaithful world where you carry the flags if they come unfurled? 
Are you locked into a projection booth that shows the films of your troubled youth? 

Hey everybody plays the mime sometimes 

Yes your world is a tundra so painfully bare 
Of the roses in the silk scarves they wear in their hair 
Have they turned you to the German, German au-pairs? 
They spoon-feed their princes apples and pears 
Yeah they spoon-feed their princes cooked apples and pears 
Oh they spoon-feed their princes apples and pears 
Oh they spoon-feed their princes cooked apples and pears 

Hey everybody plays the mime sometimes