The Man You Love To Hate

(album: The Boy Named If - 2022)

I went to a theatre on Silhouette Street
It had a taste of decay and a scent of defeat
All of the patrons in the pews were people that I'd killed or used
The actors on the stage were equally skilled
The players took turns in lighting the fuse
One of them said, "Now you must choose"

A man of infamy or I'll-repute
And that's the one that we will execute

None of that mob had turned up late
They said, "You'd better concentrate"
So start the show 'cause we can't wait for
The man you love to hate

All of the patrons sitting on pews
Were the shades of the ghosts of the once accused
There was music that dragged in line and word
Not a penny was spent or a conscience was spared
The hero's motives were never in doubt
We laughed at the speeches that he would spout
Suddenly there arose a shout

Confessions simply tumbled out
And marriage vows that someone mumbled about

None of that mob had turned up late
They said, "You'd better concentrate"
So start the show 'cause we can't wait for
The man you love to hate

The closing act, the first one billed
Into the limelight thrilled

The tale of a ship lured onto the rocks under
The cover of darkness, the hold was plundered
My mouth was parched, my eyes red-rimmed
My false light shone and my ghost light dimmed

I went to a house on Silhouette Street
Where I lived once and died once more
Awoke a woman I once adored
Her husband came to the door
In a masquerade of dignity
He said, "I'm pleased to meet you, but you don't know me"
She took my money and handed me the key

The number on the fob was 999
She whispered that's your room and this is mine
But that's a chamber that you can't afford
It's one door down next to the emergency ward

None of that mob had turned up late
They said, "You'd better concentrate"
So start the show 'cause we can't wait for
The man you love to hate
To the man you love to hate (Man you love)

I'm a one-party state
The man you love to hate
The girl you used to care for
Without a why or wherefore
The country that I loved is just a problem to solve
Until we all disintegrate
Before the man you love to hate