[Intro]

Cigarette lipstick…

powder on my nose…

Play the record, baby

nice and slow

Read me from the headlines

love me from afar

Everybody wants a saint

with a movie-star scar

[Verse 1]

My outfit swinging through the room

Perfume blooming over doom

I learned early how to grin

Hide the riot underneath my skin

Snapshots, diamonds, dirty gin

They cheer loud when I walk in

But applause is a lonely sound

When it doesn’t know you now

Velvet heels on checkered floors

I keep dancing through closed doors

Pretty lies in every frame

Everybody knows my name

[Pre-Chorus]

Tell them I’m doing fine again

Tell them I still sleep like a baby then

Tell them my heart don’t shake at night

Tell them black don’t stain the white

Tell them I laugh like nothing broke

Tell them I never choke on smoke

Tell them the gold don’t weigh me down

Tell them I love this paper crown

Tell them I’m kissed by lucky skies

Tell them they never bought my cries

But if the mirror starts to sing

Who will love the real thing?

[Chorus]

I’m the truthless, honey, dressed in black

Always smiling while I fade to black

Call me gorgeous, call me wild

But no one stays to hold the child

I’m the truthless, spun in pearls

A little tragedy for a thirsty world

If love is sweet, then tell me why

It tastes like old me and cherry wine

[Post-Chorus]

Sha-la-la… pose for the camera

Sha-la-la… cry a little after

Twist and turn in the flashing light

Break by day, glow by night

[Verse 2]

Mama’s voice inside the rain

Soft as sugar, sharp as pain

I hear her in the hallway air

Turn around, she isn’t there

Balloons tied tight around my wrist

I rose above the boulevard mist

They waved below, said “what a scene”

No one asked what leaving means

Silver spoon and empty plate

Too much love arriving late

Every room is full of cheers

Still can’t drown these quiet tears

[Pre-Chorus]

Tell them I’m doing fine again

Tell them I still sleep like a baby then

Tell them my heart don’t shake at night

Tell them black don’t stain the white

Tell them I laugh like nothing broke

Tell them I never choke on smoke

Tell them the gold don’t weigh me down

Tell them I love this paper crown

Tell them I’m kissed by lucky skies

Tell them they never bought my cries

But if the mirror starts to sing

Who will love the real thing?

[Chorus]

I’m the truthless, honey, dressed in black

Always smiling while I fade to black

Call me gorgeous, call me wild

But no one stays to hold the child

I’m the truthless, spun in pearls

A little tragedy for a thirsty world

If love is sweet, then tell me why

It tastes like old me and cherry wine

[Bridge]

Rouge on my mouth, storm in my chest

They call me glamor at my best

But under silk and chandelier light

I’m just a girl afraid of night

So spin that vinyl, let it cry

Let the saxophone ask me why

If I vanish in the spotlight glow

Would anybody know?

[Final Chorus]

I’m the truthless, one last show

Blowing kisses to the row by row

They adore the painted flame

Never learned my given name

I’m the truthless, raise your glass

Love me quick, then let me pass

When the music leaves the room

You’ll hear the truth inside the gloom

[Outro]

Cigarette lipstick…

powder and applause…

Everybody loves the icon

nobody asks the cause