The rain slammed hard as bars

It caught me--by surprise

Mutts of the planet

And shook me down for alibis

I'm waiting

For the keeper to release me

Debating this sentence

Biding my time

In memories

Of old friends of mine ...

In daydreams of Birdland

I see my soul on fire

Burning up the bandstand

Next time

I'll be bigger!

I'll be better than ever!

I'll be happily attached

To my cold hard cash!

But now Manhattan holds me

To a chair in the sky

With the bird in my ears

And boats in my eyes

Going by



There are things I wish I'd done

Some friends I'm gonna miss

Beautiful lovers

I never got the chance to kiss...

Daydreamin' drugs the pain of living

Processions of missing

Lovers and friends

Fade in and they fade out again

In these daydreams of rebirth

I see myself in style

Raking in what I'm worth

Next time

I'll be bigger!

I'll be better than ever!

I'll be resurrected royal!

I'll be rich as standard oil!

But now--Manhattan holds me

To a chair in the sky

With the bird in my ears

And boats in my eyes

Going by