I used to wear a starlit, golden vibrato Now I crack mid-phrase in a cold love libretto Wanted velvet lines, tuxedo diction, grace Now it's panic in a glass-box, red-light place When she glides by, my ribcage loses true Low notes drown first, then the high note goes askew I try to sell it with a smile, a perfect pose But my throat betrays me, everybody knows Back straight, chin up, prep the throat, okay I swear this time I'll land that high d today But when the booth light burns and she's close enough to know What should be symphony turns into a horror show C-c-cough, a-rah, hoo-rum! Glub-glub-glub, croak-croak, mmm-hmm! Urgh, argh, grrr, blergh, damn, ow, why? The note gets stuck and the voice won't fly! C-c-cough, a-rah, hoo-rum! Glub-glub-glub, croak-croak, mmm-hmm! The tickle took control And the studio star just stalled! Chest out, linen tie, expensive cologne I swear tonight this love song won't fall apart on the phone I pat my hair, I face the mirror's lies Trying not to show the heat behind my eyes I tilt the jaw, rehearse that "leading man" profile Practicing the impossible with masculine denial Time holds its breath, the click track turns to glass Even the ice in my cup can feel the coming crash Back straight, chin up, prep the throat, okay I swear this time I'll land that high d today But when she slips behind the studio glass to watch me go My larynx hits the kill-switch, lights out on the show C-c-cough, a-rah, hoo-rum! Glub-glub-glub, croak-croak, mmm-hmm! Urgh, argh, grrr, blergh, damn, ow, why? The note gets stuck and the voice won't fly! C-c-cough, a-rah, hoo-rum! Glub-glub-glub, croak-croak, mmm-hmm! The tickle took control And the studio star just stalled! And still I push, half-bent, half-proud Calling it charisma while my cords crash loud If the muse smiles back through the glass at all The rest of the take's already fucked, cut to black, that's all C-c-cough, a-rah, hoo-rum! Glub-glub-glub, croak-croak, mmm-hmm! Urgh, argh, grrr, blergh, damn, ow, why? The note gets stuck and the voice won't fly! C-c-cough, a-rah, hoo-rum! Glub-glub-glub, croak-croak, mmm-hmm! The tickle took control And the studio star just stalled!