She knocks on, the door he lets her in 
she sits down, he pours some gin
the hotel room is cold and stark 
his nameless face blends with the dark
that's fifty pounds is all she says 
and doesn't move until he pays
he complies with her demand 
puts the money in her icy hand
now he's paid the price 
she'll do anything he asks
he leads her to the bed 
nothing must be said

before we start I must confess 
he said while slowly she undressed
I'm not proud of what I do 
and neither I assume are you
because of this I must insist 
the lights stay out and you resist
the urge to know the man behind  
this shadowed face that leaves you blind
for you and I are strangers 
and that's how it must remain
he steps into the cage 
the actress takes the stage

CHORUS
who is she, this stranger
she is all one could ask for from sensuality
who is she, this stranger
she'll do anything that you desire
pay the price and you can light her fire

the tide goes out to leave behind 
the battered driftwood none shall find
she had played her part so well 
in sounds of love she does excel
she was the best he'd ever known 
his passion rose with every moan
if only they had met before 
she took the life of a whore
he feels the need to talk to her 
and she the need to hear
of what he'd left behind 
that haunts his troubled mind

there was only one love in his life 
the woman who was once his wife
but she had been so dull in bed 
while erotic dreams had filled his head
it's seven years since they had part 
when he had left her broken heart
to seek excitement where he could 
in hotel rooms and shaded woods
and now this stranger by his side 
had made him love with strength and pride
a shadowed face he'll never know 
she'll dress and quickly go

she kissed him softly on the cheek 
and leaves him while he soundly sleeps
her tears at last allowed to fall 
she hurries through the silent hall
how could he have been so blind 
when darkness can't obscure the mind
this stranger walking from his life 
had in fact once been his wife

 © NEMO JAMES. All Rights Reserved
Words and Music by Nemo James