The Halloween Parade

Lyrics

[Verse 1] Over the Pulaski Skyway Down through the tunnel of love A school bus in day glow colors Filled with bygone hippie stuff Don't laugh, your daughter might be inside But the officer laughs anyway Don't ask, don't tell, it is just as well You're heading for the Halloween parade [Verse 2] Here between the police barricades They won't stop the Halloween parade They won't paint the line green, the mayor isn't here He won't be subject to any cuts in aid There won't be no military fanfare But it has the blessings of several popes Jesus carrying his own damn cross Or carrying just enough rope [Chorus] Here on the Avenue of the Americas Larger than life, behind makeup and mask Everything America is afraid of Is lost in a ritualized hell All so the children won't ask All so we won't have to tell [Verse 3] It's the yearly meeting of the never-minds The artists, the actors, the clowns On this night and this night only It is the only show in town We're all of your worst nightmares We're all of your wildest dreams The pagans and gays and the specter of AIDS In a riot of color and screams [Chorus] Here on the Avenue of the Americas Larger than life, behind makeup and mask Everything America is afraid of Is lost in a ritualized hell All so the children won't ask All so we won't have to tell [Verse 4] It's the morning after the night before And hanging in the leftover leaves Deflated balloons and streamers In the thin arms of the dying trees There is an awkward silence As awkward couples come and go Looking sadly at this boulevard Wondering if and when they'll know [Chorus] Here on the Avenue of the Americas Larger than life, behind makeup and mask Everything America is afraid of Is lost in a ritualized hell All so the children won't ask All so we won't have to tell