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The Manhattan Transfer




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The Manhattan Transfer Album


Mecca for Moderns (1981)
1981
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Kafka
8.
. . .


Darkness lights the lamps of old Brazil
Deep inside the jungle hearts are still
Tigers hide inside alley cats eyes
Waiting for you to walk by

Underneath this starlight latitude
Underneath this tranquil attitude
Oh my feelings are running so high
I feel I could color the sky
Amazon blue

Oh it's you
(Don't you break my heart Brazil)
And it's me
(And leave me here)
On the boulevard
(Upon the boulevard)

Caught inside your spell it's your parade
Refugees from love we masquerade
Though your lover is waiting at home
I have one of my own
I must go to

Oh it's you
(Don't you break my heart Brazil)
And it's me
(And leave me here)
On the boulevard
(Upon the boulevard)

Oh my feelings are running so high
I feel I could color the sky
Amazon blue

Oh it's you
(Don't you break my heart Brazil)
And it's me
(And leave me here)
On the boulevard
(Upon the boulevard)

. . .


Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City
Ooo wah, ooo wah c'mon kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City

He's kind of tall
He's really fine
Some day I hope to make him mine, all mine
And he's neat
And oh so sweet
And just the way he looked at me
He swept me off my feet
Ooo whee, you ought to come and see
How he walks
And how he talks

Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City

He's really down
And he's no clown
He has the finest penthouse I've ever seen in town
And he's cute
In his mohair suit
And he keeps his pockets full of spending loot
Ooo whee, say you ought to come and see
His dueling scar
And brand new car

Every time he says he loves me
Chills run down my spine
Every time he wants to kiss me
He makes me feel so fine
Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City

Well he can dance
(He can dance, take a chance with a little ro-)
And make romance
(mance baby, cause he's a looker)
That's when I fell in love
With just one glance
(He's sweet talking and cool)

He was shy
And so was I
And now I know I'll never, ever say goodbye
Ooo whee, say you ought to come and see
He's the most
From coast to coast

Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City
Ooo wah, ooo wah c'mon kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City

. . .


The rule of the tyrants decline
The year, 1979
From Uganda to Nicaragua
It's bombs and bullets all the time
So they corrupt, so they vile
So it's coup after coup all the while
Human rights they violate
They think they too damn great
So in disgrace now they live in exile

Gairy is a wanted man
Idi Amin is a wanted man
Shah of Iran tried so hard to survive
He too was wanted dead or alive

Strikes, demonstrations & wars
Injustice is always the cause
Politicians turn too soon from
poor people into tycoons
Corruption must bring harass
South African Vorster resign in disgrace
Muzurewa take away Ian Smith place
The Uganda devil was easily cat straddled
Beaten up and chased, what a waste.

Gairy is a wanted man
Bokassa is a wanted man
Ali Bhutto try so hard to survive
He too was wanted dead or alive.

The Shah had a short time to live
Because the Ayatollah don't forgive
When you see church ruling state
With pure vengeance and hate
Situation must be explosive
General Somoza from Nicaragua
Thought it was easy with the Sandanistas
With the help of Venezuela, Panama and Cuba
They kick him straight to America

Gairy is a wanted man
Park Chung Hee was a wanted man
Achem Pong tried so hard to survive
He too was wanted dead or alive

Gairy is a wanted man
Idi Amin is a wanted man
Shah of Iran tried so hard to survive
He too was wanted dead or alive

Bang...You're dead

. . .


Shadows looking through an open window
Footsteps following wherever you go
Undercover eyes
Search to find the key to alibis
Living in a hideaway
You can't hide
You can never get away
They'll find you
Be aware of strangers in the dark

Jealous lovers quarrel in suspicion
Passions justifying their positions
Vengeance on the rise
Now they're throwing daggers from their eyes
Maybe they can find a way
Past their pride
Live and let it die away
If not they'll
Lie a lot and fight a lot
But you beware
'Cause in the air they're

Spies in the night
They go wherever you are
You're in their sight
Watch out for spies in the cold, cold, restless night

Heartache like a burning, turning fever
Someone tells his girl that he will leave her
Ooo her ravaged eyes
Kiss goodbye the years of hidden lies

Photos taken on display he denies
But the cheating heart will pay
She says you lie a lot
And fight a lot
but it's in vain
You can't explain 'cause

Spies in the night
They go wherever you are
You're in their sight
Watch out for spies in the night

Sorry, now you will pay

Cheryl: Hello
Alan: The winds are calm in the channel.
Cheryl: The boat will sail at midnight.
Alan: Listen very carefully to me. I don't have much time and I'm being watched.
Cheryl: You're being watched - By who?
Alan: I have your pictures.
Cheryl: Oh. Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me.
Alan: Do you have my money?
Cheryl: Yes. Of course I do.
Alan: Meet me in an hour. Position A. Code 3XZ. I'll...
Cheryl: Hello! Hello!! Hello!!!

Spies in the night
They go wherever you are
You're in their sight
Watch out for spies in the night

. . .


I used to be so fancy free,
But really lonesome as could be,
Till one lucky day, you came my way
I never knew what love was all about
UNTIL I MET YOU.

I knew it right from the start

I used to think there'd never be,
A girl who'd ever care for me,
Then, what d'ya know, you made it so,
I never knew what love was all about,
UNTIL I MET YOU.

Once we start, then we'll never part

In my blue life,
No one at all would even care if I cried.
(Hurtin' inside)
In my new life,
I'm walkin' tall, I got a feelin' of pride
Glowin' inside.

And, lover, you're the reason why,
A lonely girl is ridin' high
Now, who do you see, lucky as me?
I never knew what love was all about,
UNTIL I MET YOU.

It's cherry pink -
And apple blossom white
That's right - pink and white
I be tellin' y' right
Who'da' ever believed a guy that
Hustled pool was such a romantic;
He really was frantic

He pursue_________d me
Chalkin' his cue
Lemme' tell y' now, without a doubt
Gettin' ready for a little romance
The rustic romeo pursued me
Now is his chance
He showed me such emotion that I finally
That's what t'do if he's got some eyes - - - - -
Took a notion to give in
F'Hittin on you

An' when y' took the notion
Love is a game
Did you imagine his emotion
Everybody plays it the same
Ever was the kind t' go f'coolin'
It's a game - y' play by the rules

Did 'ja think he might be jivin' and only foolin'
Tho y' know the winners are victims
Or did you appraise it as real?
An' losers are fools

Did you go f'what came?
Now that you're his
Or was love in the game?
He c'n put his mind t'tending t' biz
If love is the answer
'Cause thats how it is -
Then you'll never, ever be quite the same
When y' find love, that's the one thing
I'm sure you know that that's so
You'll be sure of -

Well I dropped m'heart now an' bent it
Said a few sincere words
Never dreamin' that I meant it


To tell you the truth, I never,
ever really meant to begin it

How can you explain true love?
How can I disdain true love?
Love is real exciting it's so exciting - That when it
Turned me around I didn't feel like fighting

It wouldn't a caught me
Except when I saw you I was surer than sure
This really couldn't be
But what'y-know
It really was so!
I'm ready f'settlin' right down
No more runnin' around

And that's the truth, really the truth,
Really ain't puttin' on no act.
Really a fact
Really, this ain't no time f'jivin'
'Cause what I'm tellin' y' really comes
Right from this heart of mine
An' lemme tell y' there's an awful lot o'
Sacrifice t' lay it on the line

What's this thing people call love
Something nobody has too much of
This game all misunderstand, but play it

One thing's sure; Love's what I'm in
Unloose cupid's bow, let it begin
That's it! Let that madness start!
There goes my heart!

It's got me stumblin', it's got me mumblin'
I'm like a ship without a rudder,
A car without wheels
Unless y' feel it, I can't reveal it
Y' gotta have it happen to y'
T' know how it feels

One thing's sure; Love has got me
I'm as certain as certain can be
I'm yours till eternity

From the day that we met
When you showed on the set
I remember it yet
I was knocked out

I took one look at you
And what else could I do
Love walked in and I knew
There was no doubt
No, no doubt

I love you, yes, I sure do, yes, I love you
Yes, you know it
I know that you knew from the start

Now we two become one
and we'll make it together

I never really knew what love was all about
UNTIL I MET YOU.

I never really knew what love was all about
UNTIL I MET YOU.

Good - - - Shot!

. . .


I'm here to just confirm what I've been
really always sayin'
About modern jazz
It's the savior of the nation
And I'll believe it if you do too
The rhythm & blues

Like Bird
When he thought of this melody
The message he played on his horn
Was the steady confirmation
That he discovered
The sound that makes the music be free

This may sound unstable
But I know I'm able to concentrate in song to you
My lyrics may go fast
Sometimes a word may get past folks
But so I keep it swingin'
I know I've got to stay true

So like the Bird I'm gonna say that jazz is always
A happiness groove
So come on and I'll confirm it
'Cause certainly the Bird that I heard
made the word of confirmation

. . .

Kafka

[No lyrics]

. . .


That certain night
The night we met
There was magic abroad in the air
There were angels dining at the Ritz
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

I may be right
I may be wrong
But I'm perfectly willing to swear
That when you turned and smiled at me
A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

The moon that lingered over London town
Poor puzzled moon
He wore a frown
Oh how could he know we two were so in love

The whole wide world was upside down
The streets of town were paved with stars
It was such a romantic affair
And as we kissed and said goodbye
A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

A nightingale sang. A nightingale sang
The streets of town
Were paved with stars

It was such a romantic affair
And as we kissed and said goodbye
A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
Oo-ooh
A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

. . .


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