Trappings Songtext
von Peter Hammill

He could have been so great
He could have had it all
He had it on a plate
But he threw it at the wall
And he can′t know why
But he still said yes
To the easy lie and the poisoned vest
The trappings of success
They offered him the deal
(Here's the contract)
Just like an autograph
(Sign on the line)
No need to think or feel
(The past is a past-tense)
Or do anything but laugh
(The future defined)
He′s in possession, yes, he's possessed
(We got Jack)
They had no fear, he was so impressed
By the trappings of success


You see him down the clubs
Or at the premiere
(It's just another movie, it′s just another actor)
Slumming in a pub
(He′s a man of the people)
Everywhere that's anywhere
(Just one of the people, don′t talk back)
On the Rio shore or the Rome Express
With a Chinese whore or a Greek Princess
These are the trappings of success
But he's got no home and he′s got no friends
And the human mass repel him
Now he's on his own and can′t comprehend
Did he sell out or was he selling?
He's a prisoner in a golden cage
He's a prisoner in his own rage
He′s waiting for his plane
(Such a hero, such a hero)
On its first class seat
They′ve blown out his brains
With sticky kiddie sweets
Oh, the limo, the coke, the celebrity guest-list
The toady jokes and the God-darned press
The trappings of success
These are the trappings of success
And there's no way out of this one
The trappings of success
The trappings of success
The trappings of success
The trap of fame
The trap, hear him claim