Paul Simon's
Lyrics
Paul Simon Frankfurt 2002

Satin Summer Nights

©Paul Simon, released on Songs from The Capeman, 1997

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[Sal:]

I been sleeping on the roof of my building

It's cooler than the street.

I been watching the setting sun

As it bounces off the avenue

Turning into gold dust at my feet.

OH-WOH-OH

Carlos and Yolanda

Dancing in the hallway

To an old melody

Spanish eyes and soft brown curls

My love, my love

Come to me.

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I believe I'm in the power of Saint Lazarus.

And he holds me in his sight

I know that these jitterbug days I'm livin',

Well, they won't last for all of us,

But they'll last for a long summer night.

I can feel the fire in her eyes

Tonight, tonight

Under satin summer skies.

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[The Vampires:]

OOH-OOH-OO-OOH-OOH-OO

OOH-WOO-OO-OO

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[Girls:]

Baby, baby, baby

Be my special one

I seen you move in from across the street

I like the way you walk

I love the way you run

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Baby, baby,

No more baby talk

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Papi, this ain't Mayagüez

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This is the island of Nueva York

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We'll go through the projects,

Make-out on the roofs

An' count the stars like silver studs on

My . . .

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Motorcycle boots

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Tengan cuidado con ese tipo.

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Ay verdad te digo, ese tipo es tan sucio.

.

?Sucio!

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[Hernández:]

You wastin' your time, they don't know what I do

You little ghetto weeds . . . I feel like killin' you.

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Banana-colored light-skinned spics,

You feel your peel so fine?

I'm Hernández, The Umbrella Man,

Your future's locked in mine.

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The Chaplains and The Golden Guineas

The Red Wings and The Crowns,

The Mighty Mau Maus,

Those Shines from Brooklyn,

They want to cut The Vampires down

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The Savage Skulls, The Fordham Baldies,

They'll treat you like you're piss

From the heart of the barrio, now my brother

We tell them mother fuckers suck on this.

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I think we got something to talk about.

You're a coolie from the turf.

That's cool, but you don't get no respect around

here unless you belong to a bopping gang . . .

I mean, you either belong or you get hurt.

Or you could buy some protection from me.

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'Cause if someone's got to die

To pay for the shit they done

I believe in an eye for an eye

What you believe in, Salvador Agrón?

Mr. Agrón? Senor Agrón?

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[Sal:]

I believe I'm in the power of St. Lazarus

And he holds me in his sight

I believe he watches over us all

Don't tear apart

This satin summer night.

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