Fade to Black

Friday evening, put the schoolbooks down
Light up with a sister and lay around
Play your drums to the wind, your guitar to the sky
You've got to learn to be free before you to learn to fly
Fade to black on college towns
Fade to black on Yasgur's farm
Fade to black
Lift the curtain on the next act
I can't stay here and I can't go back
Fade to black

Monday morning, shave the weekend beard
Make believe it's your face in the mirror
You've got a job to do, you're on company time
You've got to learn the rules before they'll let you climb
Fade to black on your nine-to-five
Fade to black on this suit and tie
Fade to black
Lift the curtain on the next act
I can't stay here and I can't go back
Fade to black

We marched for peace
      (You want a piece of the action?)
We grew our hair in our eyes
      (Then keep your eye on the ball, boy)
We were what we were
      (You want to be a success?)
We let each other be
      (You've got to be like me)

Every weekend, play the barroom blues
Grinning like the patron saint of fools
Drink the world out of sight, drink the world out of mind
You've got half of them fooled nearly half the time
Fade to black on those hidden tears
Fade to black on the wasted years
Fade to black
Lift the curtain on the next act
I can't stay here and I can't go back
Fade to black