Janis Ian
Stars (Live At Vine St. Bar & Grill/1987)
[Chorus]
Stars, they come and go
They come fast, they come slow
They go like the last light of the sun
All in a blaze
And all you see is glory
But it gets lonely there
When there's no one there to share
You can shake it away
If you'll hear a story
[Verse 1]
People lust for fame
Like athletes in a game
They break their collarbones
And come up swinging
Some of them are downed
Some of them are crowned
Some are lost and never found
But most have seen it all
They live their lives
In sad cafés and music halls
And they always have a story
[Verse 2]
Some make it when they're young
Before the world has done its dirty job
And later on, someone will say
"You've had your day
Now you must make way"
But they'll never know the pain
Of living with a name you never owned
Or the years of forgetting what you know too well
[Bridge]
That you who gave the crown
Have been let down
You try to make amends
Without defending
[Verse 3]
Perhaps pretending
You never saw the eyes
Of young men at twenty-five
Who followed as you walked
And asked for autographs
And kissed you on the cheek
And you never really could believe
They really loved you
Some make it when they're old
Perhaps they have a soul
They aren't afraid to bare
Or perhaps there's nothing there
[Bridge]
But anyway, that isn't
What I meant to say
I meant to tell a story
That I live from day to day
[Chorus]
Stars, they come and go
They come fast, they come slow
They go like the last light of the sun
All in a blaze
And you always, all you see is glory
[Outro]
But if you don't mind being patient
With my fumbling around
I'll come up singing for you
Even though I'm down