The Theater Called

from Love Letters from the Lazaretto by John Kruth

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lyrics

The Theater Called

I was standing on the ledge
With a rope around my neck
When the theater called
But they called collect

For a walk on part
I’d sell my soul
To be the leading man
Just gimme the role

A roll with butter
And a couple of eggs
And coffee black
Oh, don’t make me beg

Yeah, the theater called
But they didn’t call back
And I’ve seen the future
We’re all wearing black

Is it a play?
Or is it for real?
Oh, what’s the difference?
It’s how you feel

When the curtain goes up
And the bright lights shine
For a couple of hours
You can leave it all behind

When the music ends
And the curtain comes down
We all wind up
In a hole in the ground

So, write a new play
With your soul on each page
And never give up
Until you find the next stage

When the theater calls
And you’re waiting to hear
So, you sit at the bar
Drinking whiskey and beer

Wined and dined
By a couple of backers
Who think they look better
Surrounded by actors

Yeah, the theater called
But they called collect
Yeah, the theater called
But they didn’t call back
When the theater calls
And you’re waiting to hear
When the theater calls
Drinking whiskey and beer

Music & Lyrics c by John Kruth Sonic Kruth/BMI 2021

credits

from Love Letters from the Lazaretto, released March 19, 2021
John Kruth – vocal, 12-string acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric mandolin, electric bass, fiddle, flute, harmonica, tambourine - Recorded June 2020 at Maus Haus West, Los Angeles. All songs c 2021 by John Kruth – Sonic Kruth/BMI. Mixed by Jeff Hamilton, Matered by Jeff Menz - Milwaukee, WI

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about

John Kruth New York, New York

With 12 solo albums to date, multi-instrumentalist, John Kruth plays mandolin, banjo, guitar and sitar as well as flute and harmonica. The former leader of the NYC "other-world" music ensemble TriBeCaStan, Kruth has played with Ornette Coleman, Allen Ginsberg, Sam Shepherd, John Prine, Rick Danko and Violent Femmes, and worked with producers Joel Dorn and Hal Willner. ... more

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