sitting at the outdoor coffee-shop table; whoever said culture was dead
got a masterpiece of creatures milling around my head
wish i could concentrate on something; still much work left undone
but my eyes are open and they've plenty to do
what with every species under the sun
so I'm people watching
yes, I'm people watching
doesn't cost a thing, despite what it's worth
yes, it's the greatest show on earth
tower tall, bucket short, buddhist monk with facial wart
real thick, real thin, derelict and double-chinned
kinda plain, love machine, ostentatious beauty queen
big haired, big boned, clearly drunk and probably stoned
yes I'm people watching
i'm people watching
doesn't cost a thing, despite what it's worth
it's the greatest show on earth
i'm sure there are stories behind each of these faces
that i will never know
but there's something real special 'bout surveying the masses
as they mosey to and 'fro
so find a free table, put on your glasses
sit back and enjoy the show
pompous husband, tired wife, hoodlum with a butcher knife
deathbed old, diaper young, albino with an ear-pierced tongue
out-of-place country hick, trendy neon teenage clique,
filthy rich, dirt poor, veteran of foreign war
i'm people watching
yeah, I'm people watching
doesn't cost a thing, despite what it's worth
it's the greatest show on earth
yes, it's the greatest show on earth
a one-word hint - magnificent - and that is quite a clue
without a doubt you'll figure out just what i think of you
perhaps you won't but if you don't i'll find another way
to make it clear so listen dear cuz here is what i'll say
you're all right
you're more than all right
you're more than more than all right
you're more than more than more than more than all right
a three-word clue - to cherish you - and that is quite a start
without a doubt you'll figure out the purpose of my heart
you're all right
you're more than all right
you're more than more than all right
you're more than more than more than more than
more than more than more than more than
more than more than more than more than
all right
this song is not about you
makes not one mention of your name
this song's got nothing to do with you
but i bet you'll read into it just the same
this song is not about us
got nothing to do with our pain
why would i choose to discuss us
in a poorly constructed melodic refrain
julia harrison: brown hair, green eyes
lives at 104 Lakeview Drive,
has a pet turtle, takes antidepressants
social security # 033-97-2165
this song's not a message from me
conveying some feeling or claim
and this song's not an apology from me
besides, well, i'm not the one who's to blame
julia harrison: brown hair, green eyes
but she'll color you black and blue; take my advice
enjoy her smile, but don't let it fool 'ya
ask her about the time she flipped out on me in front of those rabbis
this song is not about you
makes very few mentions of your name
this song's got nothing to do
with you, but I bet you'll read into it just the same
yes I'm sure you'll read into it just the same
made a little error; i do think that it scared her
made a little blunder; i do think that it stunned her
made a little freud-slip; then i heard my pants rip
made a little screw-up; then it kinda blew up
"error!" i decree "error!" woe is me
"error!" i think i'll climb a tree
made a little blooper; put 'em in a stupor
made a little faux pas; should've said 'aloha'
had a little slipped tongue; garbage flying outta my lung
little left for me to blow; my life's a real-world gong show
"error!" i decree "error!" woe is me
"error!" forgiveness set me free
such a stupid greeting; my self-respect is fleeting
what an idiotic statement; just asking for beratement
better keep my mouth shut if i don't want my tongue cut by an angry mob
the evening was a big mess; guess i wore the wrong dress
social norms i didn't know appeared to dictate from the get-go
serious respect lost; guess i shouldn't have had my legs crossed
goddamn miscommunications terrorizing my relations
"error!" i decree "error!" woe is me
"error!" i'm trying, can't you see
quite frankly i find
that you're out of your mind, this you know
but never before have i been quite so sure of my love
there could come a bang like the universe sang
when it first opened its mouth
but til a new sun you're the one i will be dreaming of
hooray, hooray, there may come a day
when the wolf turns his back to the moon
and shakes his head and chuckles instead
but i fear it will not be real soon
quite rightly they claim
if i just dropped your name i'd be healed
but who wants a cure anyhow anymore
when his pain's all that proves he can feel
there could come a glow casting shadows below
like a match scratching a spark
but til a new light breaks the night
it's the moon, it's the dark
hooray, hooray, there may come a day
when the wolf turns his back to the moon
and shakes his head and chuckles instead
but i fear it will not be real soon
my moon, no pioneer flags in the breeze
my moon, just flying here dragging the seas
my moon, full of herself at times
my moon, far out of reach always
tinseltown's calling you find it appalling, this i know
but picture your eyes on a 15-foot rise 'bove the floor
i'd pay for a ticket just to come in and picket the show
for up with the stars where they are
you'd eclipse them no more
hooray, hooray, there may come a day
when the wolf turns his back to the moon
and shakes his head and chuckles instead
but i fear it will not be real soon
no i fear it will not be real soon
it kicked off quite simply, one more crowded sub-commute
on the new york city metro, along the midtown route
the usual suspects staring into space
bankers, beggars, artists, every size and every race
when all of a sudden a tiny teenage miss
grabs a lawyer of forty and plants a wet kiss
and before you can say "public transportation"
the crowded car erupts in a frenzied gyration
it's an orgy on the subway
i was hoping this would happen someday
it's an orgy on the f train
the uptown f already left but here it comes again
dresses started dropping, pants did the same
young and old and hot and cold; friend, no one did abstain
not even the conductor, though as you might guess
she said "next stop 34th street...awww...yesss, yessss!"
it's an orgy on the subway
i was hoping this would happen someday
it's an orgy on the f train
the uptown f already left but here it comes again
and like most dreams come true, the moment it was through
we did our utmost to just keep our poise
and though I can't bring back how we got back on track
we soon dispersed and I praised and cursed once-in-a-lifetime joys
but every now and then a girl will catch my eye
i'll say "you look real familiar," she'll say "hmm... i wonder why"
we'll shrug our shoulders, knowing in our minds we've met before
though last time it was pressed up to a sliding metal door
it was an orgy on the subway
i just knew it had to happen someday
it was an orgy on the f train
that uptown f already left and then it came again
another end has come your way
some new affair has slowly faded into friendship
not much to say except that
someone else gonna catch your eye
gonna grab your heart, blow your mind
so don't think you have seen the last of love
no don't think you have seen the last of love
may be your loss may be your gain
may be your pride may be your painful memories that
lock you up but you gotta lose the chain cuz
someone else gonna pull your ear
gonna turn your head, call you dear
so don't think you have heard the last of love
no don't think you have heard the last of love
many more fish to grant your wish
of a synchronized swim with a deep sea dish
so get some gills or hold your breath
and wade on in again
yes get some gills or hold your breath
and wade on in again
just wade on in again
cuz you know that
someone else gonna move your hips
gonna hold your hands, kiss your lips
so don't think you have felt the last of love
no don't think you have felt the last of love
one tiptoed across a fragile footbridge
and one appeared to pull some strings
one he crawled into a narrow passage
and one pretended she had wings
when all the mimes left town
some climbed ladders hastily attached and
some broke through walls they had made
some just ran against the wind with passion
but by the end not one had stayed
when all the mimes left town
and everyone was talking 'bout it – isn't that ironic
everyone was talking 'bout it – isn't that absurd
just to watch their tight lips moving, it was quite hypnotic
so i just stood there like a statue, did not say a word
when all the mimes left town
and now the public parks are sick and lonely
and concrete laws have killed the young
and how i long for one to kiss and hold me
who doesn't always speak in tongues
close the door and let the darkness spin silently around
as long as you're here my favorite sights and sounds are within
cuz in your eyes sun rise sun rise sun rise
and in your laugh the sea the sea
in your lips two little coastlines
and in your arms one lucky me
rolling hills and textbook bird-filled blue skies just aren't able to
capture my senses like being held by you (surprise surprise)
in your eyes sun rise sun rise sun rise
and in your laugh the sea the sea
in your lips two little coastlines
and in your arms one lucky me
exhale until your lungs become empty
now you know what you do to me
early morning or far afternoon, winter time or spring
as long as you're near it's clear i'll sing the same tune
in your eyes sun rise sun rise sun rise
and in your laugh the sea the sea
in your lips two little coastlines
and in your arms one lucky me
i'm going back
to the cave i came from
i'm going there today
where the sun is black
and the echo lonesome
and i don't care what you say
i hope that's ok
i hope you notice, anyway
i might return
when the cities crumble
and the moon falls in the sea
and i will return
if by chance you stumble
upon a use for me
you've eternity
how hard can it be
i wish you could see
how hard it can be
yes i'm going back
to the cave i came from
i'm going there today
and i don't care what you say