Van Dyke Parks
Sphinx
[Intro]
Ah, no problem

[Verse 1]
My sphinx is a jinx she's had too many drinks
Stood on too many brinks and got the shove
She speaks in riddles
'Cause that's just the way she thinks
She's taken too much abuse from above

[Pre-Chorus 1]
I ask her, point blank, just to see if she blinks
Was she ever seduced or in love?

[Chorus 1]
She tells me I'm talking just like
One of her shrinks and she
Touches my mouth with her glove

[Verse 2]
Yeah, I was in love she admits
But we were opposites
In a battle of wits to the end
In a series of seizures and violent fits that were
Mostly make believe and pretend
[Pre-Chorus 2]
Oh and isn't it hard when it finally hits
That your lover is less than a friend

[Chorus 2]
And all your exchanges are
Just poor counterfeits
For tender too precious to spend

[Bridge]
Yesterday, we ran down to the sea to wait for your ship to come in. We were waitin', and waitin' around. Finally, it appeared on the horizon that came closer and closer and closer. Til it crashed into the pier we were waitin'
Fate would find that she wasn't looking when her luck ran in

We fell into the drink. The ship's cargo of fool's gold spilled out all over the place. It was a terrible mess, that's, that's all I can remember

[Verse 3]
I woke up in the dust
Cross-eyed and concussed
My eyes tried to adjust to the light
My sphinx was on trial for betrayal of trust
Her trial had lasted all night

[Pre-Chorus 3]
You know, I could not remember what we discussed
My mind wasn't functioning right
[Chorus 3]
But I knew the judge was a jerk
And the jury was
Just twelve men in search of a fight

[Verse 4]
(Anything you say can and will be held against you)
They sentenced my sphinx
To unsaturated lust
Some say the sentence was light

[Outro]
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh

My sphinx is a damn jinx

Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh