(Intro - Spoken Word over a cool, funky groove with a prominent bassline, wah-wah guitar, and cinematic strings) [The stage is dark, showing Papa Midnight's club. He sits in a high-backed chair, swirling a glass of rum. The music is pure 70s funk.] [Choir - soulful female vocals] Who's the cat that sees the truth behind the lies? [Papa Midnight - a deep, cool, spoken baritone] Midnight. [Choir] Who knows the story 'fore the hero even tries? [Papa Midnight] Midnight. [Choir] Who watches angels fall and never seems surprised? [Papa Midnight] Can you dig it? (Verse 1) [Papa Midnight - his vocals are a smooth, half-sung, half-spoken monologue] He came down here, the golden boy, a real all-American joy Captain of the football team of saviors, here to save and to destroy Prom queen on his arm, a future shining bright Gonna fix this broken city, gonna fill it up with light He talked of virtue, talked of grace With a perfect smile on his perfect face He was the hero... the main event... And I knew exactly how his story went. (Chorus) [The music swells with a powerful string section and the soulful choir.] [Choir] Oh, the golden boy is goin' down... (Goin' down, down, down) He's goin' down in Midnight's town... (Goin' down, down, down) He thought he'd come to take the crown... But the golden boy is goin' down... (Verse 2) [The music shifts slightly, becoming a little more quirky and off-kilter, with a strange synth line and a more staccato rhythm, reminiscent of Zappa.] [Papa Midnight] He met a little lady from beneath the Emerald Bridge The kind of girl who'll scratch your every single itch She called herself "Star Child," said she came from Venus And introduced him to her... uh... "special kind of genius." He ended up in a commune, with a man who wore a star Doin' things with a spatula and a stolen VCR She called it "love," I called it "weird" She had a thing for men with beards... and turtle shells... and no fear. (Chorus) [The music returns to the full, lush, funky "Shaft" groove.] [Choir] Oh, the golden boy is goin' down... (Goin' down, down, down) He's goin' down in Midnight's town... (Goin' down, down, down) He thought he'd come to take the crown... But the golden boy is goin' down... (Bridge - Spoken Word, the music is smooth and cool) [Papa Midnight] See, that's the thing about this town... it'll take your pretty crown... and melt it down for scrap. It don't care if you're a saint or a sinner... a loser or a winner. In the end, the house always gets its cut. And baby... (He takes a sip of rum) ...I am the house. (Guitar Solo) [A blistering, funky, and soulful guitar solo erupts, full of wah-wah pedal, emotional bends, and intricate rhythms.] (Outro) [The main groove vamps as the song begins to fade out. The choir ad-libs in the background.] [Papa Midnight] So now he's just another ghost... doin' the thing he hates the most... Wanderin' my streets... lookin' for a thrill... A brand new "Bobby Brown"... with a brand new bill to fill... And baby... in my town... ...everyone pays their bill. [Choir - fading out] (Midnight... the man...) (Papa Midnight... he understands...) (The golden boy... goin' down...) [The final wah-wah guitar lick echoes into silence.] [End]
