Beggar's Ballet

This comes from an experience I had sitting in traffic in Lahore, Pakistan.

I was in a fine car on a big street in a poor land.
And as we stopped out of nowhere came a hand.
It danced and swayed, dipped and waved.
I had never seen a more beautiful hand.
Asking, beckoning, beguiling.
I'd never seen such a beautiful hand.
Dancing the beggar's ballet.

Because it's a fine line between want and need.
A short hop between slave and free.
I wish I knew what I want 'cause I sure don't know what I need.
Dancing the beggar's ballet.

The dancing hand came from a legless man.
Who traveled the world on a square wood slab.
No one sees him but for his hand.
I have never seen a more beautiful hand.
Asking, begging, smiling
I've never seen such a beautiful hand.
Dancing the beggar's ballet.

Because it's a fine line between want and need.
A tiny distance from lost to free
Please tell me what to want 'cause I sure don't know what I need.
Dancing the beggar's ballet.

I'm like the beggar and my hand sways too
Chasing pennies on a slab of wood
Come dance with my pretty hand,
Have you ever seen such a beautiful hand?
Asking, begging, pleading.
Have you ever seen a more beautiful hand?
Dancing the beggar's ballet

Because It's a fine line between want and need
A narrow space between slave and free
Won't you tell me what I need, because I just don't want to be
dancing the beggar's ballet.