The Tickle

I used to wear a starlit, golden vibrato
Now I crack mid-phrase in a cold love libretto
Wanted velvet lines, tuxedo diction, grace
Now it's panic in a glass-box, red-light place
When she glides by, my ribcage loses true
Low notes drown first, then the high note goes askew
I try to sell it with a smile, a perfect pose
But my throat betrays me, everybody knows

Back straight, chin up, prep the throat, okay
I swear this time I'll land that high d today
But when the booth light burns and she's close enough to know
What should be symphony turns into a horror show

C-c-cough, a-rah, hoo-rum!
Glub-glub-glub, croak-croak, mmm-hmm!
Urgh, argh, grrr, blergh, damn, ow, why?
The note gets stuck and the voice won't fly!
C-c-cough, a-rah, hoo-rum!
Glub-glub-glub, croak-croak, mmm-hmm!
The tickle took control
And the studio star just stalled!

Chest out, linen tie, expensive cologne
I swear tonight this love song won't fall apart on the phone
I pat my hair, I face the mirror's lies
Trying not to show the heat behind my eyes
I tilt the jaw, rehearse that "leading man" profile
Practicing the impossible with masculine denial
Time holds its breath, the click track turns to glass
Even the ice in my cup can feel the coming crash

Back straight, chin up, prep the throat, okay
I swear this time I'll land that high d today
But when she slips behind the studio glass to watch me go
My larynx hits the kill-switch, lights out on the show

C-c-cough, a-rah, hoo-rum!
Glub-glub-glub, croak-croak, mmm-hmm!
Urgh, argh, grrr, blergh, damn, ow, why?
The note gets stuck and the voice won't fly!
C-c-cough, a-rah, hoo-rum!
Glub-glub-glub, croak-croak, mmm-hmm!
The tickle took control
And the studio star just stalled!

And still I push, half-bent, half-proud
Calling it charisma while my cords crash loud
If the muse smiles back through the glass at all
The rest of the take's already fucked, cut to black, that's all

C-c-cough, a-rah, hoo-rum!
Glub-glub-glub, croak-croak, mmm-hmm!
Urgh, argh, grrr, blergh, damn, ow, why?
The note gets stuck and the voice won't fly!
C-c-cough, a-rah, hoo-rum!
Glub-glub-glub, croak-croak, mmm-hmm!
The tickle took control
And the studio star just stalled!