dollar matinee

ronnie stood beneath the movie marquee

his memories all curled up inside

he was trying to remember

was it august or september

he'd seen her for the last time

he'd heard that she'd become an actress

lord

she always had the prettiest face

and he stood with his hands

in his pockets and waited

for the dollar matinee

lord

she's bigger than life on the screen

there's a laugh from the balcony

good lord

and the sun will burn you and blind you

when you step back into the street

the theater

she smelled so familiar

she was a smokey old velvet delight

yes

and he sat down front

just like he'd always done

with his feet hanging out in the aisles

and he watched her with eyes disbelieving

felt something like time on his brain

and he told himself

don't you remember it's only

just a part that she's playing

lord

she's bigger than life on the screen

there's a laugh from the balcony

good lord

and the sun will burn you and blind you

when you step back into the street

she stood by some window in paris

while the captions translated the scene

oh

and ronnie stared back

at her body and breathed

christ