A Man Called Alias - Rod MacDonald

©1975, 2018 Rod MacDonald, Blue Flute Music (ASCAP) Written October 1975, following Mike Porco's birthday at Folk City. Recorded by Bob Fass, WBAI, New York City, Thanksgiving 1975. Used by permission. Photo by Gerry Hinson A Man Called Alias ©1975 Rod MacDonald/Blue Flute Music (ASCAP) The word went out at 8 o’clock an appearance was in store To reclaim a golden age some had lived before By nine o’clock there were no empty seats in the place Everybody was waitin’ for a man called Alias. “Is it He?” they whispered to each other as new faces swelled the crowd And though his audience watched the door, the singer still was proud To stand on stage and wear that same old grin on his fzce That once before had been well worn by that man called Alias. At ten o’clock the room fell quiet and he was standing there With four and twenty followers and his men, the Dancing Bears The filed right through the audience to the far side of the stage And sat there with their eyes upon that man called Alias Now the Dancing Bears were too hip to clap unless he did clap too And they were looking every which way, making sure that crowd all knew That they were from that fine old vintage no one could replace But no one cared, and in the crowd, they whispered “Alias.” The singer kept on with his song, no nervousness had he The words trickled from his tongue and rested on your knee But the Dancing Bears were not so sure he had that special grace To allow for him to be enjoyed by a man called Alias Now Alias he rubbed his eyes beneath his glasses blue The Dancing Bears took off their shades and all rubbed their eyes too They passed around his cowboy hat and stared deep in his face “Somebody go get me a beer,” said the man called Alias. Well, out in the crowd somebody said “What makes him think he’s so Wonderful and high above,” but there was no one who turned to go They wheeled in kleig lights and a camera was set in place To film the scene for the amusement of a man called Alias For several hours the finest singers, clowns and jugglers too Turned on their special charms, for there was magic in the room They crooned and swooned and turned on all the smiles on every face But all their thoughts were set on pleasing that man called Alias Then the last singer of that whole night, he was up there He called Alias up to the stage, a song the two could share But Alias he turned and fled while the dancing bears gave chase It would not do to be seen leaving, except with Alias. They all put on their shades and their brand new cowboy hats They ran out after Alias and there ain't no one who looked back They vanished into limousines, or maybe into space Some say they’re still dancing ‘round that man called Alias.