Van Dyke Parks



She slid on her dress under that melancholy moon

Somethin' to impress him hopin' he would be there soon

She gonna run away

He got a Chevrolet

She wanted Nat King Cole

He got a Jelly Roll

Whole lotta heart and soul

Saphron(?) and a river rat are rappin' at her door

Take her to a picture show she sure ain't seen before

She was a debutant

Give it just what she want

You tell her just where to go

Down to the drive in show

You be my riverboat



Movies is magic

Real life is tragic

Fundamental though it seems

When you're livin' in your dream

And you wake up it's over

Movies is magic

Real life is tragic

I regret I gotta say

It is time we get away

To the movies and magic



Cowboy dressed like injun popped right off that silver screen

Scarlet up like a jukebox for a dreamboat Delta Queen

Raindroppin' all around

Put up the top you clown

And turn on the Nat King Cole

Off with the rock and roll

To the movies and magic



Movies is (movies is) magic (magic)



Movies is magic

Real life is tragic

And as time goes by and by

You will often wonder why

To the day that you die

'Cause movies is magic

Movies is magic