Sunset Boulevard - Terry Callier

Sure, I came out here

To make my name

Wanted my pool, my dose of fame

Wanted my parking space at Warners'

But, after a year

A one-room hell

A murphy bed

A rancid smell

Wallpaper peeling at the corners

Sunset Boulevard

Twisting boulevard

Secretive and rich, a little scary

Sunset Boulevard

Tempting boulevard

Waiting there to swallow the unwary

Dreams are not enough

To win a war

Out here they’re always keeping score

Beneath the tan, the battle rages

Smile a rented smile

Fill someone’s glass

Kiss someone’s wife

Kiss someone’s ass

We do whatever pays the wages

Sunset boulevard

Headline boulevard

Getting here is only the beginning

Sunset boulevard

Jackpot boulevard

Once you’ve won you have to go on winning

You think I’ve sold out?

Dead right I’ve sold out

I just keep waiting

For the right offer:

Comfortable quarters

Regular Rations

24-hour five-star room service

And if I’m honest

I like the lady

I can’t help being

Touched by her folly

I’m treading water

Taking her money

Watching her sunset…

Well, I’m a writer

L.A.'s changed a lot

Over the years

Since those brave gold rush pioneers

Came in their creaky covered wagons

Far as they could go

End of the line

Their dreams were yours

Their dreams were mine

But in those dreams

Were hidden dragons

Sunset Boulevard

Frenzied boulevard

Swamped with every kind of false emotion

Sunset Boulevard

Brutal boulevard

Just like you, we’ll wind up in the ocean

She was sinking fast

I threw a rope

Now I have suites

And she has hope

It seemed an elegant solution

One day this must end

It isn’t real

Still I’ll enjoy

A hearty meal

Before tomorrow’s execution

Sunset Boulevard

Ruthless boulevard

Destination for the stony-hearted

Sunset Boulevard

Lethal boulevard

Everyone’s forgotten how they started

Here on Sunset Boulevard!