i did not perform upon the stage

I did not perform upon the stage
The stage performed on me
It told some jokes and sang some songs:
Something you had to see.
It put the other acts to shame
So I didn’t even try
I held the stage up for its act
While on my back I lie.

The stage could do some sleight of hand
Made rabbits disappear
And juggled flaming ten pins
And pulled quarters from an ear.
The audience was going wild
And clapping with their hands
While I just held the whole thing up
By playing the grandstands.

The show was going overtime
The stage just would not quit
The audience was loving it
The stage had made a hit.
But rehearsal didn’t last so long
And it could have been my age
The theater all came tumbling down
When I couldn’t support the stage.