As you can tell by my picture on the cover of this CD I am a brunette. When I was growing up, fictional brunettes didn’t offer much in the way of role models (except for Wonder Woman on course.) The Brunette was a boring secondary character at her nicest and a wicked tempting jade at her worst. Guess which one this song is about!
INTRODUCTION
When you're watching movies,
Relaxing with a book,
You admire the hero,
And you revile the crook.
The hero always wins
Unless he's interrupted
By a little wicked someone
Who helps him get corrupted.
VERSE
It's a fine thing to cheer and applaud them.
They're upholding the good way -- be glad!
But I find that the view is much better,
When I get to see a good man go bad.
CHORUS
It seems heroes get tempted but rarely do fall.
That's nice for the damsel but no fun at all
For the women whose jobs are to lead men astray
Circe, Delilah, Morgan Le Fey.
VERSE
Circe tried but got left on her island.
"Dear, I miss my wife, my dog, and my lad."
Delilah failed when she cut Samson's tresses.
He weakened but the good plan went bad.
VERSE
A tête a tête with Le Fey caused a problem,
'Cause it seems they were related just a tad.
Arthur tried to find a final solution,
And that's where a really good man went bad.
INTERLUDE
It's more entertaining
To organize a coupe to
Overthrow a good man
Than a blackguard through and through.
Think of the suffering,
Justifications.
Those who knew him
Never knew what he could do.
VERSE
He'll dress in black and grow wicked with power.
He might be angry, or gothic, or sad.
His cruelty grows, causing henchmen to cower.
No one is evil like a good man gone bad.
CHORUS
Some fall for power or vices more base.
Others for love -- that's a hard one to trace.
The hero's corruption leads many to death.
Just ask the husband of Lady MacBeth.
VERSE
MacBeth was known for his honor and prowess,
But ambition crowned him king and a cad.
Some blame his wife, or maybe three little witches
Helped to make MacBeth a good man gone bad.
VERSE
If he fancies a job as a hero,
I should think that he's probably mad.
Temptation calls him to go to the dark side.
It's not too hard to make a good man go bad.
CHORUS
Although heroes are known to occasionally fall.
They often do rally -- that's no fun at all
For the women whose jobs are to lead men astray
Circe, Delilah, Morgan Le Fey.
VERSE
It's a fine thing to cheer and applaud them.
They're upholding the good way -- be glad!
But I find that the view is much better,
When I get to see a good man go bad.
credits
from Courting My Muse,
released May 7, 2007
Music and Lyrics by Mary Crowell
Copyright 2001 by Mary Crowell
Mary Crowell: Vocal and Piano
Mary Crowell is a singer/songwriter and piano teacher who loves mythology and playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Her Patreon is
here: www.patreon.com/DrMaryCCrowell
She may be seen at science fiction and filk conventions performing and accompanying concerts on piano and occasionally clarinet.
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