Uneasy Lies the Head of the Confidence Man

Through hoops and secret panels Down the slip-n-slide Faith finds a way to the other side But you are tempted to be clever This seems to do the trick Pick a number, you've got a thousand schticks But certain crowds are tough Someone has called your bluff Your timing's out of step You drown in your own sweat You've become a fire-walker And work the center ring But you never learn to walk on water 'cos you can't pull any strings They pardon you when you leave A few cards up your sleeve You wear a beard, a magic turban Charm & hypnotize Handle snakes, take flying carpet rides Trap doors and wires, smoke and mirrors-- (tools of the wonder trade)-- False-bottom trunks conceal the big charade It's taken years to learn How not to crash and burn There's little glory in Just learning how to swim You conceal, misdirect Disappear, stack the deck Jump and tumble, hurdy gurdy That's the confidence man A little truth, a little sleight of hand Sometimes we grasp the truth When we have lost our youth Sometimes we live and die Still clinging to a lie Someone's laughing, someone knows You're not wearing any clothes Still i am tempted to be clever This seems to do the trick