When shadows flicker on a silent screen
And brings to life a long forgotten scene.
Do they bring back memories of long ago?
Can you still hear the piano in the movie show?
How many people now would know
William S. Hart or Rudolph Valentino?

How many alive can remember how they sat
And watched the antics of Krazy Kat?
Or a sad eyed little guy named Charlie Chaplin?
Of Keaton or Lloyd were you a fan?
Do you remember a detective named Charlie Chan?
He was the best this Warner Oland.

And Laurel and Hardy were two funny guys
On the silent screen they were best at throwing pies.
We kids worshipped Fairbanks in his racing car
Until he, ooh! kissed a lady star.
None of us would ever go that far;
Besides, it was more fun to eat a candy bar.

I remember when the talkies came to town
And the silent films were put down.
There were three movie houses on our main street.
The silent films just couldn't compete.
The Gem theatre was the last to meet
The future of a sound it couldn't beat.

We loved our cowboys, Tom Mix and Gary Cooper
They were our heros, they were super.
Mary Pickford and Lillian Gish,
What more could a movie go'er wish?
And Marlene Dietrich, you were quite a dish.
How about W.C. Fields -- wasn't he outlandish?

Then a black faced guy on his knees sang Mammy
And gave the business a double whammy.
So I guess the talkies are here to stay.
Great stars like Theda Bara and Fay Wray
Never again will pass our way.
Let the final curtain fall on the dreams of yesterday.

Now the screen is dark and the lights are on.
The audience has left the stars are all gone.
And the silent era has passed from sight.
Since I can't think of anything else to write.
I will find the switch and turn out the lights
And just walk away into the night.