The rain slammed hard as bars
It caught me by surprise
Mutts of the planet
And shook me down for alibis

I'm waiting for the keeper to release me
Debating this sentence
Biding my time in memories
Of old friends of mine

In daydreams of birdland
I see my soul on fire
Burning up the bandstand

Next time
I'll be bigger
I'll be better than ever
I'll be happily attached
To my cold hard cash

But now Manhattan holds me
To a chair in the sky
With the bird in my ears
And boats in my eyes
Going by

These things I wish I'd done
Some friends I'm gonna miss
Beautiful lovers
I never got the chance to kiss

Daydreamin' drugs the pain of living
Processions of missing
Lovers and friends
Fade in and they fade out again

In these daydreams of rebirth
I see myself in style
Raking in what I'm worth for

Next time
I'll be bigger
I'll be better than ever
I'll be resurrected royal
I'll be rich as standard oil

But now Manhattan holds me
To a chair in the sky
With the bird in my ears
And boats in my eyes
Going by