Secrets
John Cale & Bob Neuwirth Lyrics

What do you think is going on here the old man said from his chair?
The old man questions the situation at hand.

Did you think this is anything New now look here son.
The old man believes the current situation is nothing new.

this is just like it was back in the old days before the last war? then t Litics changed, the scene rearranged and became how we know now is quo.
The old man compares the current situation to pre-war times and acknowledges the changes that have occurred since then.

oh yeah, there were times when everyone smiled and the greed of the good times would roll, but a heartbeat away was the cr
During good times, people were greedy but danger was always looming close by.

Hat did pay - the shot that was heard around the world.
The danger that was close by resulted in a significant negative event.

if you go to sleep, the old man explained, you're just going to miss on your turn.
The old man advises that one should stay vigilant and not miss their opportunity.

but if you stay awake the path that you take may in fac Ome a bridge to be burned.
By staying awake and being vigilant, one may realize that the path they are taking is not the right one.

And the old man turned away (secrets) wiping his tears from his eyes.
The old man is emotional and turns away while wiping tears from his eyes.

It's already too late, he whispered, but that's certainly no reason to cry.
The old man realizes that it's too late for some things, but he still believes there's no reason to cry.

(dirty little secrets)
A reminder that what's being discussed are dirty little secrets.

You see the last pioneer is waving his flag, framing the organ bone by bone, burning in sections,
The last person standing for something that once was is fighting a losing battle and is slowly being destroyed piece by piece.

Twisting his flag and walking on glass as he is clearing his tomb.
As the last pioneer fights to maintain his beliefs, he is also painfully making his way towards his own destruction.

Yeah, nevertheless, there's no money, said the kid.
The kid acknowledges that there is a lack of money.

"eh well, half-price hookers are watching the Mast, the old man said, prepared to face the music and laugh.
Despite the lack of money, there are still some pleasures to be found, and the old man is prepared to face the consequences while laughing.

bring the shadows down on the S of the soft ladies that lie on their mechanical beds.
The lack of money has forced some women into doing things they don't really want to do.

and nevertheless, there ain't no money, the Kid said.
The kid reiterates that there is a lack of money.

well so call up a future and rewrite the past, said the old man.
The old man suggests looking towards the future and rewriting the past to try and change the course of events.

raise the hammer an Flee the news, polish the armor and dust off the grass.
The old man suggests taking action and preparing for the future.

there's more dead-end options here than We'll ever use.
There are many options available, but most lead to dead-ends.

Well listen, times are hard but the crowd's flooding in.
Despite the hard times, people are still showing up and trying to make the best of it.

Hey kid, second class will sell to the valley again don't worry.
The old man assures the kid that even if things aren't great, people will always find a way to survive.

Well, what do you want me to do about it? said the old man.
The old man admits that he doesn't have the answers to the problem.

I've come up with every argument I can for the fact that the lawyers are leeching the marrow out of the bone of anyone who's got an or L idea in this country.
The old man notes that lawyers are taking advantage of people with good ideas.

Well what country are you talking about? said the kid.
The kid questions which country the old man is referring to.

I'm talking about the country where my nephew makes honey out of old orange peels and plastic out of old bandaids.
The old man is talking about a country where people are resourceful and can make things out of seemingly useless items.

I'm talking about a country where the sun never sets, I'm talking about a count Ere fish are the bricks that build the edifices from which you can throw yourself in a veritable syndrome of court reverence.
The old man is referring to a country where nature is abundant and the legal system has too much power.

ahaha, greed and gun and invests.
The old man makes a sarcastic joke about how greed, guns, and investments are all intertwined.

Nevertheless there ain't no money, said the kid.
The kid brings up the lack of money again.

Marks and pounds and pieces of flesh? said the old man.
The old man questions what money is really made of.

Hey, no protection is worth a damn, said the old man.
The old man believes that no amount of protection is truly effective.

They're sending the waters off helega lamps.
Something is happening to the water supply.

They're carving the marble shape of the urn.
Something is being created out of marble.

A goateed image in turkish stone?
The marble creation might be a goateed image in Turkish stone.

The woman settled for anomalous clothes and socks some place in vermont.
A woman is settling for unusual clothes and socks in a location in Vermont.

The young man is evidently not worth suing.
Someone has decided that the young man is not worth suing.

State of vermont is in america? said the kid.
The kid questions whether Vermont is a part of America.

They're doing it again and again and again.
Something negative keeps happening and repeating.

Nevertheless there ain't no money, said the old man.
The old man concludes that there is still no money despite various circumstances.