Liasons

At the villa of the Baron De Signac
Where I spent a somewhat infamous year
At the villa of the Baron De Signac
I had ladies in attendance, fire-opal pendants

Liaisons, what's happened to them?
Liaisons today
Disgraceful, what's become of them?
Some of them hardly pay their shoddy way

What once was a rare champagne
Is now just an amiable hock
What once was a villa, at least is "digs"
What once was a gown with train
Is now just a simple little frock
What once was a sumptuous feast is figs
No, not even figs - raisins

Ah, liaisons
Now, where was I?
Oh, yes

At the palace of the Duke of Ferrara
Who was prematurely deaf but a dear
At the palace of the Duke of Ferrara
I acquired some position, plus a tiny Titian

Liaisons, what's happened to them?
Liaisons today
To see them indiscriminate women
It pains me more than I can say
The lack of taste that they display

Where is style?
Where is skill?
Where is forethought?
Where's discretion of the heart?
Where's passion in the art?
Where's craft?

With a smile and a will
But with more thought
I acquired a chateau
Extravagantly overstaffed

Too many people muddle sex with mere desire
And when emotion intervenes the nets descend
It should on no account perplex or worse, inspire
It's but a pleasurable means to a measurable end
Why does no one comprehend?
Let us hope this lunacy is just a trend

Now, where was I?
Where was I?
Oh, yes

In the castle of the King of the Belgians
We would visit through a false chiffonier
In the castle of the King of the Belgians
Who, when things got rather touchy
Deeded me a duchy

Liaisons, what's happened to them?
Liaisons today
Untidy, take my daughter, I taught her
I tried my best to point the way
I even named her Desiree

In a world where the kings are employers
Where the amateur prevails
And delicacy fails to pay
In a world where the princes are lawyers
What can anyone expect, except to recollect
Liaisons