the stage is set
the curtain is rising
we've hedged all our bets
nothing's surprising
nostalgia, my part,
the script's been revised
the better to see me
through rose-coloured eyes
and when this act's over
and we've taken our bows
on the rose-littered stage
to the merry-mad crowd
we'll hand up our costumes
remove our face paint
and exit together
both sinners and saints
