A Chair in the Sky

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

There are 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

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