The Show Goes On Lyrics
Didn't you expect it when you opened your door
To the man with the long coat and the long list of victims
Everybody watching knows he's the one keeping score
From where she sits, everyone stands in judgment
People watching as the curtain falls down
See the lights do a long slow fade
Everyone watching all along
The show goes on, as the autumn's coming
And the summer's all gone
Still without you, the show goes on
Some rush into things, some stand and wait their turn
I've been here all along, standing here all this time
But you never noticed, just let the same tired flames burn
From where I sit, everyone stands in judgment
People watching as the curtain falls down
See the lights do a long slow fade
Everyone watching all along
The show goes on, as the autumn's coming
And the summer's all gone
Still without you, the show goes on
You better try to find it before it passes you by
As I watch you walking to another cold dawn
And you keep on walking
And they keep on talking
Talking all along
People watching as the curtain falls down
See the lights do a long slow fade
The show goes on, and the sad-eyed sisters go walking on
Everyone watching all along
The show goes on, as the autumn's coming
And the summer's all gone
Still without you, the show goes on

This seems to be a song about unrequited love. The narrator is lamenting the sadness of a woman he has always loved and wanted. Unfortunately, she committed herself to another man who already had a long list of broken relationships (always ending on his terms).
Members of the family stand by as they watch her relationship with this man coming to an end as well. Although they are judging her for her naivety, the narrator still feels love for her and is hoping that she'll finally notice him before it's too late in life.
[Edit: Grammar]

Some of the most haunting piano I have ever heard. Death is inevitable.

howdy, firstly let me express my general positive approach to living mime and mine onlies life. I beliew in the positive as being jouous, grateful contented and as happy as I can be, its taken a while to understand this as we are constantly bombarded by radio, tv news movies and music that express repeatly all the negative aspects of life(i.e. you can get a disease of hit by a car ,etc.,) it goes on and on and it dominates most peoples lives, but noy mine my own show(life) gors on. Therefore my interpation of this song is from the other end of the looking glass and I would be happy to discuss this song with anyone; my e-mail is jalanwood@gmail.com.,I'm not certain this song is about death or that it is even an end in itself to ones show, From my positive viewpoint I look at death as a part of life AND the cntinuine of life. You may disagree but having had sveral nesr death experiences-I found it always a peaceful place both ready to return or fade away- which my instincts and mind goverened by reason allow me to think and feel this way. Indeed the show is a continuum and you shall go forth. I think the song's ending can be regarded this way, the music is great the beat and everything goes on; its a mindset don't you know, Enjoy, Jimi

Song laments a lost love who fell for a mystery man (the man in the long coat) who was a serial heartbreaker. He is waiting for and watching her but she continues in her self-destructive path.

I can’t give specific interpretations to each lyric, but, to me, this song expresses the bittersweet pain of life. It reflects disappointment, but it also reflects strength and resilience of humanity. Beautifully haunting song.

Norfolk, VA and Navy life. Hornsby's hometown and a large naval base. The lyrics are full of local references, starting with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, (the diesel rolls in silhouette) as it does on the photo on the album, trying to make it with the Admiral's daughter (cross her battle line is a naval war technique) and setting up on the bandstand refers to his early music career. Sailors hear the whistle blow, violence in the afterglow is a great line!