Don McLean
The Pride Parade
It started out quite simply, as complex things can do;
A set of sad transparencies 'til no one could see through
But least of all the one inside, behind the iron glass;
A prisoner of all your dreams that never come to pass

Alone you stand corrupted by the vision that you sought
And blinded by your hunger all your appetites are bought
But in spite of what becomes of you, your image will remain;
A reminder of your constant loss, a symbol of your gain

And your friends are together
Where the people are all gathered
All along the road you traveled all your days

And soon you have succumbed to what the others all believe
And though the lie affects them, still it's you that they deceive
And all at once you're lost within the emptiness of you
And there's no one left who's near enough to tell you what to do

You're left with nothing but your self-potential in the dark
Like tinder resting on a rock, protected from the spark
But your fire just consumes you, you alone can feel the pain
And you stand in all your glory and you know you can't complain

But your friends are together
Where the people are all gathered
All along the road you traveled all your days
But you are surely just as evil as the worst my tongue can tell
For you'll never face my heaven, and I'll not endure your hell
You have lost the chance to mingle with your constant quiet lies;
Deceptions hidden with your lips, but spoken with your eyes

For I know you for what you are not, for that's really all you are
And your talents of a minor order seem to stretch too far
And we both know that this masquerade can't carry on too long
You're deep inside the pride parade, but where do you belong?

And your friends are together
Where the people are all gathered
All along the road you traveled all your days