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THE ASSIGNATION song lyrics
by Joel Sattler

(based on a short story by Edgar Allan Poe)

she dropped the baby
into the water
of the canal
at the Bridge of Sighs

he didn't know
twas son or a daughter
as he dove in
to rescue the child

I stood and watched
helpless to rescue
as they pulled them
out of the muck

he gave the baby
gave her his heart too
how was he to know
he was out of luck

only a dream
only a dream
keep telling yourself
it's only a dream

only a dream
only a dream
keep telling yourself
it's only a dream

she told him she'd meet him
one stroke after midnight
she promised him all
but he had to wait

he turned away
held me by the arm
and took me to see
the loot of his cave

the greatest art
assembled in Venice
the treasure of ancient
Egypt and Rome

Renaissance paintings
visions of menace
he lived a museum
that he called his home

he gave me a cup
of spices and wine
and we drank to the lady
and all her travail

he recited a poem
told me his stories
and at the end
of his sinister tale

he said:
"a man must laugh or die
in each and every breath
but to die as he laughs
would be a glorious death"

I was feeling sleepy
the cinnamon wine
burned hot in my blood
and dizzied my head

he told me the two
of them'd never marry
they was no chance
that they could be wed

just then her servant
burst into the room
told us she was poisoned
that's all that he said

my friend stood up laughing
and then he keeled over
the next thing I knew
he was rigid and dead

only a dream
only a dream
keep telling yourself
it's only a dream

only a dream
only a dream
keep telling yourself
it's only a dream

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