The Manhattan Transfer Album

Big blues in the city, trailin' the
main stroll (a kitty)
Cup o' joe, get witty. At Deuce's
Cafe, it's the mostest hideaway

Mez muggles "Flip Zooty Flim
Plant you now solid,
dig you later Slim"
First you crawl then you walk,
scat then you talk
Hear the cool, feel the heat of the
Rhythm of the offbeat of avenues

Help me, he blew his wig
(Lay it on)
He plays gutbucket doghouse dig
(Chick is hot)
For the hide-beater on the stand
(Really gone)
Hear that Gabriel's growl
Break it up, beat it out

This canary has got a frame
(She can chirp)
And some high-jiver
knows her name
(Digs his vine)
Cats all friskin' their
whiskers...Ow
(Jam is on pops)
I collar all jive, give me five
(Now you dig, alive)
So I know you're alive
In the dim you've arrived

Cruel lips, whisper baby
Pulse of the neon, she's crazy
Smokin' eyes, get hazy
Like beauty to beast,
"You're the most to say the least"

(Do you have any) Monk,
Cozy, Red, Yank, or Prez?
Let's cut some rug gate these skins
are a mess
First you crawl then you walk,
scat then you talk
It's nirvana, it's attitude
Rhythm of the offbeat of avenues

Help me, he blew his wig
(Lay it on)
He plays gutbucket doghouse dig
(Chick is hot)
For the hide-beater on the stand
(Really gone)
Hear that Gabriel's growl
Break it up, beat it out

This canary has got a frame
(She can chirp)
And some high-jiver
knows her name
(Digs his vine)
Cats all friskin' their
whiskers...Ow
(Jam is on pops)
I collar all jive, give me five
(Now you dig, alive)
So I know you're alive

(Bouyoot
Two finger-like lickin'...
This cat, is hot friskin'...
The jam is on now)

First you crawl then you walk
(Man she's a blip)
Scat then you talk
(Ofay plays hip)
Comp...
Rest...
Rhythm of the off beat...

(Wacky Interlude)

Help me, he blew his wig
(Lay it on)
He plays gutbucket doghouse dig
(Chick is hot)
For the hide-beater on the stand
(Really gone)
Hear that Gabriel's growl
Break it up, beat it out

This canary has got a frame
(She can chirp)
And some high-jiver
knows her name
(Digs his vine)
Cats all friskin' their
whiskers...Ow
(Jam is on pops)
I collar all jive, give me five
(Now you dig, alive)
So I know you're alive

(Repeat and fade)

Dig!
Y' really wanna flip your lid?
Try and give a listen to the singer
Hip or square, dig her wares
When money's stiff
she's thrivin' on a riff
She turns the major
into minor cool
In her town she's reknown,
she's their crowl jewel of jazz

She's brazen, simply amazin'
(When she sings)
Her phrasin's jus' like a saxophone
(Misty eyes)

Workin' in the daytime, jammin'
ev'ry night (憈il the broad daylight)
Blowin' over changes that would
give mos' gals a fright
People call her Sassy,
that's her attitude
Actin' like the devil but
when she sings her blues
Y' know what she's goin' through

She's hurtin', I'm certain,
she jus' can't say it
Wings, when she sings
Body, soul, she's in control

Dig!
Watch Sassy take another swig
Now she's gettin' evil
with her people
Cigarette, final set
Don' wanna miss her
Prelude to a Kiss
Ev'n the trumpet player's
smilin' now
She's walkin' the line, scattin' in
rhyme, she's a divine jewel of jazz

She's brazen, simply amazin'
(When she sings)
Her phrasin's jus' like a saxophone
(Misty eyes)

Workin' in the daytime, jammin'
ev'ry night (憈il the broad daylight)
Hangin' with the fellas
can't quite quench her appetite
People call her Sassy
coz she knows her mind
Someday she'll be famous and
leave the grind behind
She knows what she wants t' do

She knows it, an' shows it,
the girl can't help it
Swings when she sings
Body, soul, she's in control

Workin' in the daytime, jammin'
ev'ry night (憈il the broad daylight)
Hangin' with the fellas
憈il she's ready to ignite
People call her Sassy
coz she knows her mind
Someday when she's famous,
She'll leave the grind behind
She knows what she wants t'do

(Repeat Bass Solo)

Spiked heels and porkpie hat -
Have you on the mend
in no time flat
A shimmy and a shake,
a pitter and pat
Hey there sugar -
Take a look at that!

Don't you despair 'cause your
fantasy life is nowhere
Under my care you'll be
back in the pink
Drunk without a drink

Tunnel down in soft silk and satin
Loosen up and roll to the
rumble of the drum
Make believe it's midnite
in Manhattan
10 minutes till the savages come

Come here and don't look back -
Meet me at the end
of the cul-de-sac
Come on! Stand up at attention
and I'll do the same
Hey there tiger,
now don't you be ashamed

Life has a way of destroying our
sense of child's play


But under my wing you'll be
back in the pink
Drunk without a drink

Tunnel down in soft silk and satin
Let your backbone roll to the
rumble of the drum
Make believe it's midnite
in Manhattan
10 minutes till the savages come

Sigmund Freud himself
Wouldn't have needed to worry
If his hands were tied by me
There's no neurosis that this
doctor can't diagnose
I'll find the monster and
deliver a lethal dose

Life has a way of destroying
our sense of child's play
But under my wing you'll be
back in the pink
Drunk without a drink

(Repeat 1st Chorus)
(Repeat 1st Verse)

It was cool in the fifties scattin' to
jazz and be-bop
It was the sound they were throwin' down
From LA to New York and
in every town

And with the rhythm in your souls
Add a hip-hop and bop n'
just so ya know
This thing it's back swing is king,
call it New Jack

(Chorus)
What goes around, comes around
(And that's the way it goes)
What goes around comes around and
comes around
Like that, a riff and a rhythm
What goes around, comes around
(And that's the way it goes)
What goes around, comes around
Like that, like that

Round, round and round
round we go
Round, round and round
round we go

People stomped in the cities
jumpin' to the groove of the music
They rocked and jammed
with the hipster clan
In the clubs, in the streets
and on every beat
And with the be-bop in their souls
They took the swing thing and
started to roll
And now it's a fact a little hip-hop
and bop has found a way back

(Repeat Chorus)

Be-bop, hip-hop,
hep hop don't stop
Be-bop, hip-hop,
add pop don't stop

(Rap)
Bix he had a bag of tricks
Parker came along exactly when
he changed the mix
Sax made a bang,
Monk made a change
And be-bop laid the tracks
for the Coltrane
They were getting busy,
a trumpet pumped
Your head got Dizzy and
you started to bump
They had a style,
beat was the backbone
You could see for Miles,
Mr. Philly Joe Jones

You may not realize swing
was here before
Because it's disguised and we've
added so much more
The time is now to show you how
to get the groove into your shoes

(Repeat Chorus)
Round, round and round
round we go
Round, round and round
round we go
(Repeat)
What goes around and round
Must come around and around
(Repeat)

Hot to trot shot,
out to the hot spot
Up to the nines with bodies in line
an' feelin' so fine
What's to lose, go get 'em shoes

You take a train, you find a
fascinatin' rhythm in the rain
At every stop,
you hear the clippin' and the clop

You take a beat, you find a
fascinatin' rhythm in your feet
It's so complete and you know
nothin' can compete

(You ain't seen nothin', you ain't seen nothin' - yet!)

You start to palpitate and the
jeep is shakin' the snake
Like a man upon the move for a
doll who doesn't hesitate
Bad John
You hear the sound of a sad song

And when the downtown folk
all shake it on out tonite
Jeep is jake and rakin' in the take
Bad John
You are back where you belong

She's such a sight tonite (Hello)
A Caribana with a fan a top banana
in a blue savanna moon
A neck in neck
You tell her darlin' get the check
you're all electric
Up in Harlem in a swoon
Another dance with a with a tropical fan
Another chance with
the topical tan

Mean swimmin' saxophones
Takin' in the wimmin' and
shakin' them bones
The goat get in the fete begin
Naughty in the body and set for sin
A Creole girl step up and say
"never say never"
with a casual sway
Takin' her time to come my way
Bad John
You are back where you belong

All reet I'm tippin' in, deed I do
And while the goat is on the fire
and every note is your desire
You approve her every move
You in a spin (Come on in)
She wanna grab you by the duff
and tell you
Honey this is tough enough
for sure
There's the door,
what are you waiting for?
And just us two,
Serenading in Blue

You take a frail who makes a
copesetic caper with her tail
I'm tellin' you, she really
puttin' on a do

The saxophones, you can't relax
when there is rhythm in your bones
You're on the hoof,
you raise a racket on the roof

Some syncopation, makin' with the
eyes an arisin' occasion
Made it in the shade the way they
played that satin Serenade in Blue

Scarecrow, weathered and weary
Fragile and old beyond his years
Here we are - chosen
In your eyes, the truth lies frozen

Soldier in the city heat
Refugee in every street
And life goes by
Standing in the pouring rain

(Chorus)
He's a gentleman with a family
A gentle man, living day to day
He's a gentleman with pride,
one may conclude
Sign reads, Gentleman with a
family will work for food

Shadows haunting his tired eyes
Reaching beyond the empty hand
Here we are, the chosen
In your eyes, the truth lies, frozen

Soldier in the city heat
Refugee on any street
And life goes by
An apostle to these worn out souls

He's a gentleman with a family
A gentle man, living day to day
He's a gentleman with pride,
one may conclude
Sign reads, Gentleman with a
family will work for food

A boy, a girl, two souls that grow
Two different directions
away they go
How so? Well, to feel a flow,
for love to show we must know
To say what we mean,
mean what we say
It's just like it seems
So take time to pray for her
She will see love as a blur
That's when the pain will occur
Word!

She will fall so far and
won't know who you are
Her strange heart
won't see the danger
The passion for love,
no way to save her
So treasure her heavenly pleasure
beyond all measure
Just reassure her that
You love her
That you love her

It's such a mystery sharing
your passionate pleasures
You wrestle with your soul,
your dreams won't last forever
It hurts to love it so, who knows
when the heart is a stranger's
Then pray for one who sees, your
way through the untold dangers

It's a world, it's alive,
it's a look in your eyes
It's a touch, it's a kiss,
it's a reason to fly

Women in love
(Searchin' the night, lookin' for
light, prayin' for one who sees)
Women in love
(Hopin' to find some peace of mind
not just a fantasy)
Women in love
(A hopeless dream of love supreme
not what it seems to be)
Fall so far

Your fallen angel's come
time torn from the heavenly fire
You'll have to bite your tongue,
it's intensity's desire
You can say what you mean,
feel you know who you are
Looking into the eyes
like a child in the dark

(Repeat Chorus)

Fall so hard
It's a world, it's alive,
it's a look in your eyes
It's a touch, it's a kiss,
it's a reason to fly
You can say what you mean
feel you know who you are
Looking into the eyes
like a child in the dark

Women in love
(Searchin' the night, lookin' for
light, prayin' for one who sees)
Women in love
(Hopin' to find some peace of mind
not just a fantasy)
Women in love
(Into the night, lover's delight,
shakin' in ecstasy)
Women in love
(Searchin' the night, lookin' for
light, prayin' for one who sees)
Women in love
(A hopeless dream of love supreme
not what it seems to be)
Fall so far

Lost in a feelin'
So very deep inside of me
Something's not healing ever since
You left this place
Oh, but I loved you and although
I didn't know you
Just the idea of you brought
Rapture to my face

I feel I almost got to know you
At least you made it to my heart
Even though we'll always
Be a world apart
Now I'm getting on without you
But I need to cry sometimes
'Cause I know we'll always
Be a world apart

Voices of children -
In the streets I hear them laughing
It all fades to one voice
I hear crying in the night
I think about you wondering
If you're out there listening
As if the words I sing
Will somehow bring you light


Well I almost got to know you
At least you made it to my heart
But I know we'll always
Be a world apart
Now I'm getting on without you
But there's a shadow in my heart
'Cause I know we'll always
Be a world apart

Seems I almost got to know you
At least you made it to my heart
But I know we'll always
Be a world apart
Through the constancy of memory
You will live inside my heart
Then we'll never have to
Be a world apart

Over and over I never knew
How much till you were gone
Over and over and over
You will be mine eternally

After the crash when you're
strolling thru the ruins alone
Pick up the phone
When you feel twisted, honey,
I'm listed
Confide in me, confide in me

Got no degree
But I'm strong on tears and
careless hearts, brave new starts
You know I'm a big fan and
I got a program
If you'll just confide in me

We'll sit in my kitchen babe,
Drink lotsa coffee babe
You'll begin just where you left off
And you can tell how high
you flew and how you fell
And I'll make your landing soft

My place is cute
And it's kind of comfortable
in a storm, safe and warm
We'll throw open the nighttime
and let in the sunshine
If you'll just confide in me,
just confide in me

Yes I'm strong on careless hearts
I'm strong on brave new starts
Confide in me, I'll hold your hand
Confide in me, I'll understand
You say you've slipped,
made a mistake
Confide in me, for goodness sakes

(english translation of aymara narration)
In ancient times great fear arose
Among the inhabitants of
Tiahuanacu, the spaniards were
Coming into their lands. the indians
Retreated to their houses in great fear
And closed themselves in total
Isolation without food or water.
They sat down in great sorrow with
Knees bent and heads bowed (they
Are called chullpas) and died.
They were buried in this position.
Others froze to death in a standing
Position like stone monoliths
(monolitos). the indians who live
There today are very poor - no
Clothes or food. they seek a better
Life and move to the cities where they
Learn to read, write and do any kind
Of work. they earn money and don't
Want to return to their homelands.

Night calls through the air
Reaching for it's solitude
Dusk lures like a lyre beckoning
The quietude

In state of constant commotion
Full of rage and heartless devotion
There's a need that burns within to
Fly away, just fly away

Soft winds kiss the land
Silent and in gratitude
Children hand in hand


Comprehend the quietude
Through a maze of fear
And compulsion
There's a race for the power
And fortune
Still a need within cries out to
Fly away, just fly away

People rush, people flee, they
Move so fast that they cannot see
Work all day, up all night, they
Push and hide all the joy inside
Like a wave that breathes in
The ocean and the mountains
Peak with emotion
There's a need that calls within
To find a way, just find a way

Time to leave and fly away,
To take a leave and castaway
To leave the worries and the dismay,
It's time to go,
It's time to play it's...

Time now to fly away,
Take leave and castaway
To fly...
The moon it guides my way,
Winds blow to show the way
To fly...

Dawn breaks, day descends
With a calming attitude
Shadows fall and bend
Welcome in the quietude

Adios mi Corazon Iberia
Adios mi Corazon adios
Adios, adios Iberia
Adios, adios Iberia

Adios my Pablo
You know how much we'll miss you
when you finally leave us
Vaya con Dios

Over the water came a
brother driven mad
Puttin' forth a heathen horde
on his people
To blacken human spirit'll
make the devil glad -- glad
Things like that will make
the devil glad
Make the devil so glad
You fight your brother
Tryin' t' fight your brother
drives you mad
And madness blinds you Pablo

Mi Pais, mi Catalonia -- When?
When you comin' home?
When you comin' home?
Well, my heart is near home
ever home
None play our music
None paint our pictures
None make our spirit glow
My body's leaving but not me
Your face we will see
On the day that we're free
So go -- Pablo
When danger threatens I must flee

The darkness comes
with a roll of the drums

Dark! Dark!

All the people work
Yet there is no pay
No pay -- low pay
All the people work
Yet the children hunger on, Pablo

Hear me say Madre, mi Madre
The everlasting light of art
Will ever shine
As long as I'm away from home
The devil strikes without warning
Turn life's wheel aroun'
Black is white, wrong is right,
up is down

Life is heavy 'neath these
new Conquistadores
Los Conquistadores acted nice
while at home
Madre
Mi Madre
Mi Padre
I know that you're the music
and the beauty
All I ever do
Is to keep the lamp of beauty
burning bright to keep it alive
Keep the light alive
To keep the light alive
Keep the light alive
That's a light s' gotta live

All the people work
All the people pray
We miss you
All the people pray
For your safe returning (oh Pablo)
Will you, will you, will you,
will you, will you please
Cast an eye overseas,
over there, over there
Over there around the
Hispaniolas -- si Cuba
Hombre Cubano,
el comprende como sta?
Adios, mi Corazon, Iberia
Adios, o' little sons of Iberia
Adios, Adios, Adios
Adios