When times are hard you ask for sweeter tunes
When days are tough the nights bring full saloons
But when I swing and change to minor chords
That's when the audience goes wild

 [bad word] the tragedy
The sound of agony
The tears you love to cry
The pain that wants no remedy
People tell me they like me to smile
Bring joy and relief for awhile
But when all the music starts
They love the sound of tragedy

 [bad word] the tragedy
The death of harmony
The tears you love to cry
The pain that fights serenity
People tell me they like me to smile
Bring joy and relief for awhile
Deep inside your heart you want the tragedy

I walk the stage and sing you've got a friend
I find applause towards the happy end
But when I swing and change to minor chords
That's when the audience goes wild

One I'll direct your success
Two [bad word] we transgress
Three it's the drama they bless
Four find the spleen at the core
Five it's the tears they adore
Six and when they weep give them more

 [bad word] the tragedy
The death of harmony
The tears you love to cry
The pain that fights serenity

 [bad word] the tragedy
The sound of agony
The tears you love to cry
The pain that wants no remedy
People tell me they like me to smile
Bring joy and relief for awhile
Deep inside your heart you want the tragedy