A Fan Speaks / Famous Man

Lyrics

[Intro] This song's all about when I met Ray Davies in an airport in Denmark.  [Part I: A Fan Speaks] [Verse 1] I met Ray Davies in a Danish airport And it turned out he was a really nice guy He said, "Keep writing your songs, man For as long as you can" And from Ray Davies that's good advice But actually he didn't quite say that 'Cause I added that word "man" But at least I'm following his good words And of course I'm a very big fan, yeah And I'm just trying to make this thing scan [Verse 2] I've met many a famous person And I'm not gonna drop any names Sure, I did mention Ray When I started to play That's 'cause he is a credit to fame Unlike a few I could mention Who actually quite freaked me out They treated me like I was one of those guys Who carries a small gun about Who carries a small gun about [Chorus] So congratulations to those of you Who feel the need to congratulate your heroes If someone means a lot to you Well, I'm sure that it rates a mention But commiserations to souls that are lost Who feel that killing is a way to get your love across Great God above, keep the stars that we love From those merely seeking attention [Verse 3] Well, I know what it's like to be bothered And I know what it's like to be tired But you've gotta hide In some kinda disguise To be famous and yet be walked by So, stars, watch your manners around me You don't have to talk to me long I might not pull a gun out on you But I might write you into this song The second version of this song [Chorus] So, congratulations to those of you Who feel the need to congratulate your heroes If someone means a lot to you Well, I'm sure that it rates a mention But commiserations to souls that are lost Who feel that murder is a way to get your love across Great God above, keep the stars that we love From those merely seeking attention [Outro] Great God above, keep the stars that we love From those merely seeking attention Great God above, keep the stars that we love From those merely seeking attention Great God above, keep the stars that we love From those merely seeking attention [Part II: Famous Man] [Verse 1] Mother, last night I shot a famous man His music, his life, well I was his greatest fan Mother, now I'm sorry for the things that I did I've been hiding it all of my life I should've kept it still hid I wish I'd kept it still hid [Verse 2] Mother, last night I shot a famous man Ain't it funny the things a man does 'cause he knows that he can? When I raise my voice, it's a small feeble sound in the wind To make yourself heard in this big bad world You must know where to begin Must know where to begin [Verse 3] Mother, last night I shot a famous man But today I can't say if it all went according to plan Mother, he just looked me straight in the eye And now I know how he felt Every day till he died Every day till he died [Verse 4] Mother, well now people listen to me I'm the king of America, some say that I'm the king of comedy But Mother, now that I know what it means to be heard I wish I'd put down my gun, like he put down his guitar And I wish that I'd swallowed my words Wished I'd swallowed my words [Outro] Mother, I knew him, but he never knew me (Ah)