an empire falls by the wayside, yeah
like a beach house on the seaside, yeah
one disease away
one disease away

come see the light
burning at night
the pile of books
and all the people
I'm not trying to be Mr. Right
I'm just trying to save all the people
and all the words that fill all the books
that burn to ash for crimes of evil
follow the scent of smoke
and the path will lead you right back
to Constantinople

this rerun film in black and white
has a meaning that's just as simple
one disease away
one disease away

come see the light
burning at night
the pile of books
and all the people
I'm not trying to be Mr. Right
I'm just trying to save all the people
and all the words that fill all the books
that burn to ash for crimes of evil
follow the scent of smoke
and the path will lead you right back
to Constantinople

the knowledge that's the most contagious
must be purposefully spread thin
the knowledge that's the most contagious
must be purposefully contended
to the end

[January 19, 2011]