Artist: Donald Fagen Album: The Nightfly {1982}

Standing tough under stars and stripes
We can tell this dream's in sight
You've got to admit it at this point in time that it's clear
The future looks bright
On that train, all graphite and glitter, undersea by rail
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris
Well by seventy-six we'll be A-okay

What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free

Get your ticket to that wheel in space
While there's time - the fix is in
You'll be a witness to that game of chance in the sky
You know we've got to win
Here at home we'll play in the city powered by the sun
Perfect weather for a streamlined world
There'll be spandex jackets, one for everyone

What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free

On that train, all graphite and glitter, undersea by rail
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris
More leisure time for artists everywhere

Just machines to make big decisions
Programmed by fellows with compassion and vision
We'll be clean when their work is done
We'll be eternally free, yes, and eternally young, ooh

What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free
What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free

Uptown it's murder out in the street
Uptown it's murder out in the street
That's where I found my mandarin plum
That's where you'd be if you found one
Where the nights are bright and joy is complete
Keep my squeeze on Green Flower Street

Since May there's trouble most every night
Since May there's trouble most every night - trouble every night
Where once we danced our sweet routine
It reeks of wine and kerosene
Where the nights are bright and joy is complete
Keep my squeeze on Green Flower Street

There's a special place for lovers, one we understand
Down where neon bends in daylight sky
In that sunny room she soothes me, cools me with her fan
We're drifting, a thousand years roll by

Lou Chang, her brother, is burning with rage
Lou Chang, her brother, is burning with rage - Lou Chang burns with rage
I'd like to know what's on his mind
He says, "Hey buddy you're not my kind."
Where the nights are bright and joy is complete
Keep my squeeze on Green Flower Street
Where the nights are bright and joy is complete
Keep my squeeze on Green Flower Street

I've got a girl and Ruby is her name - Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, baby
She don't love me, but I love her just the same - Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, baby
Ruby, Ruby, how I want you
Like a ghost I'm gonna haunt you
Ruby, Ruby, when will you be mine

Each time I see you, baby, my heart cries - Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, baby
I'm gonna steal you away from all those guys - Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, baby
From the sunny day I met you
Made a bet that I would get you
Ruby, Ruby, when will you be mine

I've got a girl and Ruby is her name - Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, baby
I'd give the world just to set her heart aflame - Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, baby
Got some lovin', money too
Gonna give it all to you
Ruby, Ruby, when will you be mine, all mine
Ruby, Ruby, when will you be mine

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, baby
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, baby

Some say that we're reckless, they say we're much too young
Tell us to stop before we've begun
We've got to hold out till graduation
Try to hang on Maxine

While the world is sleeping we meet at Lincoln Mall
Talk about life, the meaning of it all
Try to make sense of the suburban sprawl
Try to hang on Maxine

Mexico City is like another world
Nice this year, they say
You'll be my senorita in jeans and pearls
But first let's get off this highway, off this highway

We'll move up to Manhattan and fill the place with friends
Drive to the coast and drive right back again
One day we'll wake up, make love, but till then
Try to hang on Maxine

Move up to Manhattan and fill the place with friends
Drive to the coast and drive right back again
One day we'll wake up, make love, but till then
Try to hang on Maxine

Yes, we're gonna have a wingding
A summer smoker underground
It's just a dugout that my dad built
In case the reds decide to push the button down
We've got provisions and lots of beer
The key word is survival on the new frontier

Introduce me to that big blonde
She's got a touch of Tuesday Weld
She's wearing Ambush and a French twist
She's got us wild and she can tell
She loves to limbo, that much is clear
She's got the right dynamic for the new frontier

Well I can't wait till I move to the city
Till I finally make up my mind
To learn design and study overseas

Do you have a steady boyfriend
Cos honey I've been watching you
I hear you're mad about Brubeck
I like your eyes, I like him, too
He's an artist, a pioneer
We've got to have some music on the new frontier

Well I can't wait till I move to the city
Till I finally make up my mind
To learn design and study overseas

Let's pretend that it's the real thing
And stay together all night long
And when I really get to know you
We'll open up the doors and climb into the dawn
Confess your passion your secret fear
Prepare to meet the challenge of the new frontier

I'm Lester the Nightfly, hello Baton Rouge
Won't you turn your radio down
Respect the seven second delay we use
So you say there's a race of men in the trees
You're for tough legislation, thanks for calling
We wait all night for calls like these

An independent station - WJAZ
With jazz and conversation
From the foot of Mt. Belzoni
Sweet music, tonight the night is mine
Late line till the sun comes through the skylight

I've got plenty of java and Chesterfield Kings
But I feel like crying
I wish I had a heart of ice, a heart like ice
If you want your honey to look super swell
You must spring for that little blue jar
Patton's Kiss And Tell, Kiss And Tell

An independent station - WJAZ
With jazz and conversation
From the foot of Mt. Belzoni
Sweet music, tonight the night is mine
Late line till the sun comes through the skylight

You'd never believe it, but once there was a time
When love was in my life
I sometimes wonder what happened to that flame
The answer's still the same - it was you, you, it was you
Tonight you're still on my mind

An independent station - WJAZ
With jazz and conversation
From the foot of Mt. Belzoni
Sweet music, tonight the night is mine
Late line till the sun comes through the skylight

The surf was easy on the day I came to stay
On this quiet island in the bay
I remember a line of women all in white
The laughter and the steel bands at night

All the Americans are gone exept for two
The embassy's been hard to reach
There's been talk and lately a bit of action after dark
Behind the big casino on the beach

The rules are changed, it's not the same
It's all new players in a whole new ball game

Last night I dreamed of an old lover dressed in grey
I've had this fever now since yesterday
Wake up darling, they're knocking, the Colonel's standing in the sun
With his stupid face, the glasses and the gun

I know what happens, I read the book
I believe I just got the goodbye look
I believe I just got the goodbye look
I believe I just got the goodbye
I believe I just got the goodbye look
Won't you pour me a Cuban breeze Gretchen 

The rules are changed, it's not the same
It's all new players in a whole new ball game

I know a fellow with a motor launch for hire
A skinny man with two-tone shoes
Cos tonight they're arranging a small reception just for me
Behind the big casino by the sea

I know what happens, I read the book
I believe I just got the goodbye look
I believe I just got the goodbye look
I believe I just got the goodbye
I believe I just got the goodbye look

A shadow crossed the blue Miami sky
As we hit the causeway by the big hotels
We fought, now I can't remember why
After all the words were said and tears were gone
We vowed we'd never say goodbye

When we kissed we could hear the sound of thunder
As we watched the regulars rush the big hotels
We kissed again as the showers swept the Florida shore
You opened your umbrella
But we walked between the raindrops back to your door
We walked between the raindrops back to your door
Oh, Miami

In my dreams I can hear the sound of thunder
I can see the causeway by the big hotels
That happy day we'll find each other on that Florida shore
You'll open your umbrella
But we'll walk between the raindrops back to your door
We'll walk between the raindrops, between the raindrops
Walk between the raindrops back to your door