Say goodnight, your song is through
Faint refrain we hardly knew
Comes crashin' against the drunken waters of this wake when I hesitate
Because all I can say is "too much, too little, too late"

Farewell, you fool
Spare me the punch line please, I learned it well at Sunday school

Way back when all you loved was the grease paint, not the collection plate
So much for the funny face
Because all I can say is "too much, too little, too late"

Remember when murder was only killing time
And an axe to grind (to grind, it was) was a bitter gulp of strychnine?

What happened to the musketeers of chesterfields?
Tobacco swords behind smoky shields

Say goodnight (goodnight)
Old song (so long)
You're through (set the needle back and hum a new tune)
Faint refrain (refrain)
Make room (so soon, so soon)
For new (until the hook can pull the bridge into view)

Spare me the vague, not-so-clever couplets
The ones I would have loved when I was you