On Marlon Brondeau


from the ABC set Caligula's Return

It's not something I could stand, no
My name used casually off-hand, so
Bowie, Cohen, Neil Young and Elton
have lyrics the ear is bound to snarl on.
A name that's dipped into like fondue

for a sort of sweet and tragic mind-blow.
A name that sings like Mouret's rondeau.
A name that towers like a churring pylon.
It's not something I could stand, no.

I'd rather be Billy Dee Williams' Lando
than the Vader of a darker brand, though
it's worse to be someone like Cassidy or Merlin.
When people know your name, they forget you, darlin'.
Who'd want the handle Marlon Brando?
It's not something I could stand, no.

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