When Sal's Burned Down Lyrics - Dar Williams

Are we the fools for being surprised 

That a silence could end with no sound 

Like the silent movie era, like with snow 

Like when Sal's burned down 

Well yeah, there was noise but nothing to mark the passing on 

Of that great unspoken chance we had found 

Where the night's end came well-trod and familiar 

Like the Charlie Chaplin walk that fades to black 

And there wasn't anyone trying to sell their souls 

They were only trying to buy them back 

They were only trying to buy them back 

Well yeah, there was a Sal 

He walked with bulging pockets 'round town 

Either he was up to no good 

Or he just got excited watching things burn down 

Well, I guess he got the idea, if you hold a chunk of gold in your hand now 

For once in your life you can throw some weight around 

And Sal, your slimeball sell-out, how can we blame you 

We all want something to put our fingers on 

And you'll never know the true throne that you've lost 

Till the vinyl barstools are gone 

Till the vinyl barstools are gone 

If you toss around some words you might say that 

Sal was carrying a torch for the mob 

But the mob's gone too, yeah the only sign of them left 

Is on every screen at the Multiplex and we go there no prob hey 

'Cause there ain't no cowboy's in this Connecticut town 

No, not anymore, no, not since Sal's burned down 

Once you dip your tin cup down in the muse's watering hole 

Or pioneer a new patch of common ground 

Then you'd lie on your time-traveled bedroll 

Quite amazed at the expansive terrain 

And if anyone said you'd never have fame and fortune 

Just that bar you know, you'd ride that way again 

I bet you'd ride that way again