Dollar Matinee Lyrics - Nanci Griffith

Ronnie stood beneath the movie marquee 

His memories all curled up inside 

He was trying to remember 

Was it August or September 

He'd seen her for the last time 

Heard that she'd become actress 

Lord, she always had the prettiest face 

And he stood with his hands 

In his pockets and waited 

For the dollar matinee 

Lord, she's bigger than life on the screen 

There's a laugh from the balcony, good Lord 

And the sun will burn you and blind you 

When you step back into the street 

Theater, she smelled so familiar 

She was a smoky old velvet delight 

Yes, and he sat down front 

Just like he'd always done 

With his feet hanging out in the aisles 

And he watched her with eyes disbelieving 

Felt something like time on his brain 

And he told himself 

Don't you remember it's only 

Just a part that she's playing 

Lord, she's bigger than life on the screen 

There's a laugh from the balcony, good Lord 

And the sun will burn you and blind you 

When you step back into the street 

She stood by some window in Paris 

While the captions translated the scene 

Oh, and Ronnie stared back 

At her body, breathed 

"Christ, that's the first time I've seen it!" 

Behind him the people were leaving 

Well, the buses, they were humming outside 

But old Ronnie never went 

To the movies unless 

He could stay and see it twice 

Lord, she's bigger than life on the screen 

There's a laugh from the balcony, good Lord 

And the sun will burn you and blind you 

When you step back into the street 

Lord, she's bigger than life on the screen 

There's a laugh from the balcony, good Lord 

And the sun will burn you and blind you 

When you step back into the street 

When you step back into the street