All day it gnaws ...
claws ... at my guts ...
I must be bloody nuts!
 
No “ifs” or “buts”, baby!
tonight’s your night, of
bright-lights, baby!
Night-of-delight, maybe –

Night-of-fright, maybe! 
shoot!  what made me think
I could really do this thing?
they’ll hate ‘n castigate me
fall flat on my face in disgrace maybe
Oh God, I feel ill - what the f--k
I’ll upchuck, for sure
face-plant on the floor ‘n
I’ll be boring – they’ll all be
looking at their watches'n -
 
Snoring? Only if you botch it, baby!
Now get your dress on, and maybe –
 
I gotta pee! Can’t see!
 
Feel the crowd, baby
nice ‘n loud, plenty of ‘em, smell the smells
just gel, you’ll be swell ‘n
break a leg, baby!
 
Oh what the hell ... shhh ...
last bell ...
 
House-lights dim, cold skin
heart’s beatin’ fast ‘n
I could pass
out
cold
 
Don’t you dare!
 
How’s my hair?
 
Murmurs! coughing!  giggle!
here ‘n there a sneeze, a wriggle,
shhh! places please!
 
Then the magic fiddle plays
cries soft, and chases away
all my day’s
doubt and fear, no, the TERROR oh
God, what was that about?
 
Hushhh!
center stage
red dress,
follow spot
fades
in, hear a pin
drop,
take a breath

of
red
velvet
moment
 
The fiddler smiles
meets my eyes, now it’s
just me an' the light
tonight
on wings …
we sing
flying higher
than the stars
and taking
all
these
people
on joy's journey
loving
them,
wrapping
them
in
red
velvet
song