Complicating the Ingénue

[Verse 1] Scandalous ladies, entertaining new entrées on the Hollywood menu. Smoking, drinking, lovemaking, heart-breaking, complicating the Ingénue; Dragging reality into a fantasy land, where a hard man is preferred to a husband. [Chorus] Complicating the Ingénue. Scandalous rhythm, Breakin’ the rules— Swingin’ wild in a midnight revue, She’s playin’ the game, And the game plays you. [Verse 2 – Spoken Word] In the freedom of the Pre-Code era, Endowed with the power to put that savage work in on the viewer, Becoming as water in the sizzling Sahara. The ladies chilled off for the scene, setting their own prices for the dream, dominating the picture screen, where a woman could be anything, play any role on any team; Vengeful brides in black, Quick-tempered sirens with snappy comebacks. [Chorus] Complicating the Ingénue. Scandalous rhythm, Breakin’ the rules— Swingin’ wild in a midnight revue, She’s playin’ the game, And the game plays you. [Verse 3] Chicks from the wrong side of the tracks, Gold-digging showgirls, Hot voodoo witches, Burning moral code. Boisterous boardroom bitches set new rules for the road. Blonde and brunette duos with diamonds on the brain. The skinny-dipping jungle dame. Hookers with golden hearts, the femme fatale with compassion, Baby faces… quick with a piece. Half-naked burlesque girls, Pin-up models on piles of green. Supervixens and vamps brought New blood to a magical screen. [Chorus] Complicating the Ingénue. Scandalous rhythm, Breakin’ the rules— Swingin’ wild in a midnight revue, She’s playin’ the game, And the game plays you. [Bridge] Bojangles’ Selina on the downswing. Ain’t Misbehavin’ in Stormy Weather. Walking with senators, Government representatives. Tallulah Bankheadin’ on the fool! Supporting foster children, rescuing families from war, staging monkey business to serve the greater good. Shake dancing while spying, objectifying the chauvinist, disempowering the racist; The way Josephine Baker made bananas move on the rue, Bent every rule for the Ingénue. [Final Chorus – Big Finish] Complicating the Ingénue. Scandalous rhythm, Breakin’ the rules— Swingin’ wild in a midnight revue, She’s playin’ the game, And the game plays you. Complicating the Ingénue. Scandalous rhythm, Breakin’ the rules— Swingin’ wild in a midnight revue, She’s playin’ the game, And the game plays you. [Passionate Outro] The way Josephine Baker made bananas move on the rue, Bent every rule… For the Ingénue…