Up on stage the worlds his own
He gives the crowd a spellbinding show.
Leaves the stage to rapturous applause.
And always leaves them wanting more.

But as the curtain falls and the lights are dimmed
The demons inside him begin to set in.
His doubts and fears eat into his skin.
As the walls around him begin to close in.

Frustrated his life's forever on show.
He just wants to hide, but goes with the flow.
Persuaded by all that the show must go on.
Feels he's falling apart and everything's wrong.

He wonders how long he can disguise.
The feelings inside - he tries so hard to hide.
So he laughs and jokes – paints on a face.
And leaves no room for thinking space.

Convinced he's fake and his act is stale.
He craves to escape, believing he’s failed.
For him the sweet smell of success has turned rancid
And his questions “what if” remains unanswered.

The deadly solitude after the show
Eats into his brain as he drives slowly home.
He cannot think straight as his minds in a spin.
Paranoia and self-loathing begin to set in.

He opens another bottle - his mood is still sinking.
And swallows some sleeping pills - to help him stop him thinking.
I guess he just wanted to bury it all.
But has tragically performed his last curtain call.