A Guide to Legendary Status in the 21st Century

You want to be a legend?

You must be a "What If?"
As in: "What if he hadn't thrown
His talent all away?"
"What if he hadn't blown it
On drugs and lover's tiffs?
What if he hadn't met that girl
In darkest Santa Fe?"

Become a rollercoaster

For people's hearts and brains
To take a torrid ride on
Journeys deep into your hell.
Throw in some work of genius
Between the rucks and pains,
As something they'll remember
Just before you tripped and fell.

Then play the burnt - out demon,

Fill papers with your woes,
Go hopelessly downhill,
Stoke up their anticlimax fears...
So you, the fallen idol,
From phoenixlike repose,
Can hit them with the glory
You've been saving up for years.

Let others keep their noses clean

And slog away their lives,
Just hoping to be recognised
Before they waste and die.
While you, my little actor
Get drunk and count your wives,
Contented in the stardom of
The tears you lamely cry.