They walked into the gallery to see the pretty pictures
That they read about the night before inside the magazine that they
Subscribed to, to see what’s happening

They’d heard the important things about the exhibition
That it represented turning points regarding French impressionism
But, so they wouldn’t miss anything

They got the wand–their minds began to melt
They jumped on–the conveyor belt
The bodies with their magic wands rode by
But two kids jumped off to the side with a cry
Waiting, wondering, whispering, watching
Watching for the paint to dry

They roll as fast as dominos but by this time tomorrow
They’ll be rattling like bones, trading facts about Pisarro
All about his life and circumstance

Names like Renoir and Degas flood accounts receivable
They take them in like numbers on some huge computer terminal
Manet was Monet’s influence

When he lived and who he saw and what he ate and drank
Where he slept and how much money he had in the bank
If his parents made him live on soggy macaroons
Whether he had nervous breakdowns Tuesday afternoons

The people are all finished now, digested all their knowledge
It reminds them of the happy times they spent away at college
They’ve got something new to talk about

15 minutes afterward their ecstasy has faded
But some other people come and grab the magic wands like they did
The tape doesn’t skip and can’t run out

And they got the wand–their minds began to melt
They jumped on–the conveyor belt
The bodies with their magic wands rode by
But two kids jumped off to the side with a cry
Waiting, wondering, whispering, watching
Watching for the paint to dry

(lyrics: Dan Bern)