The Last Time I Saw Paris - Ann Southern

The last time I saw Richard was Detroit in 68 And he told me, "All romantics meet the same fate Some day, cynical and drunk and boring Someone in some dark cafe" "You laugh", he said, "You think you're immune Go look at your eyes, they're full of moon You like roses and kisses and pretty men to tell you All those pretty lies, pretty lies When you gonna realise they're only pretty lies? Only pretty lies, just pretty lies" He put a quarter in the wurlitzer, and he pushed Three buttons and the thing began to whirl And a barman came by in fishnet stockings and a bow tie And she said, "Drink up now, it's getting on time to close" "Richard, you haven't really changed", I said It's just that now you're romanticising some pain that's in your head You've got tombs in your eyes, but the songs You punched are dreaming Listen, they sing of love so sweet, love so sweet When you gonna get yourself back on your feet? Oh, and love can be so sweet, love so sweet Richard got married to a figure skater And he bought her a dish washer and a coffee percolator And he drinks at home now most nights with the TV on And all the house lights left up bright I'm gonna blow this damn candle out I don't want nobody coming over to my table I've got nothing to talk to anybody about All good dreamers pass this way some day Hiding behind bottles in dark cafes, dark cafes Only a dark cocoon before I get my gorgeous wings and fly away Only a phase, these dark cafe days

Last time I saw him He sweetly kissed my lips Last time I saw him He said, "I'll be back for more of this" Last time I saw him We were crying at the bus I knew he hated leaving But he had to set us up I gave him money I know I invested well Mamma doesn't trust him But he loves me I can tell Each day the greyhound Arrives at nine o' clock But I don't start my crying 'Till that last man's gotten off Last time I saw him Last time I saw my honey Last time I saw him He was greyhound-bound But I'm still waiting here Without a fear That bus will someday turn around I had no letter It's been six months, maybe better I try forgetting him But I love him more then ever I have decided I've waited long enough If there was nothing wrong He would return right on that bus There must be trouble So I'm leavin' on the double If he can't get to me I know he needs me desperately Last time I saw him Last time I saw my honey Last time I saw him He was looking fine And as he waved goodbye He said don't cry I'm coming back, come rain or shine Last time I saw him Last time I saw my honey Last time I saw him He was greyhound-bound And as he waved goodbye He said don't cry honey I'm coming back, come rain or shine La de da, la da do Do la da da, da da da Last time I saw him He was looking fine And as he waved goodbye He said don't cry I'm coming back, come rain or shine

Last time I saw Cole He was working a car wash Stole money and burned the whole thing Down for the mafia, got payed real good Next time I saw Cole He was working for the circus He used to get drunk and beat up some midgets, that was Cole He said, "You'd never believe the Things I've seen and done," that was Cole He said, "You'd never believe the Things I've seen and done," that was Cole Last time I saw Cole His picture was everywhere In movies, magazines, posed with supermodels, Presidents and kings and queens, that was Cole Last time I saw Cole He was in the Pope's entourage traveling through town He kissed his hand and everything, I couldn't believe it, that was Cole He told me on the phone, "You wouldn't believe the things I've seen and done," that was Cole He said, "Harley, You wouldn't believe the things I've seen and done," that was Cole Everybody from the neighborhood, They couldn't believe it, about Cole and everything His mother still lived in that old shack on Jones St., that was Cole He said, "You'd never believe the Things I've seen and done," that was Cole Last time I saw Cole He was in town, he looked scared and haggard, drunk or something He said, "Come to my hotel room, please," I met him there, opened the door He was in the bathroom, his body riddled with bullets I heard somebody coming up the stairs, so I ran I didn't hear anything on the news, Or in the newspapers, I called his office His secretary told me he had to go Back to Panama for business, that was Cole To this day, I've never seen Cole again I know his fate, But I shall not say a word about this To anyone, for I fear for my own life What he saw and what he did, I will not know But I know, that was Cole

Last time I saw you You arrived with someone else And I was happy just to see you But I kept it to myself Last time I saw you Your hair had gotten long And the people I was sitting with Asked me what was wrong Last time I saw you We did not even talk I had gotten high And then I wished that I had not And the last time I saw you I don't know where we were It could've been a birthday But it wasn't mine or yours I don't know why it's always bleeding at the edges Why that whole night keeps on tearing at the seams I guess it might be that this is just a bunch of guesses I'm told that you left early I can't speak to that at all But if you were wearing a jacket Then it must've been the fall Did we smile at each other For a moment through the crowd? Well, even if we didn't, hell It's nice to think about Last time I saw you It was a year or more ago And I would've made a bigger deal But how was I to know? I don't remember every detail But I keep on trying to 'Cause last time I saw you Was the last time I saw you

Beggin' me to stay And then you walk away There's something that you wanted to say I was in a rush But you said you were crushed And I said I'd be back, it's okay I wish I'da hugged you tighter the last time that I saw you I wish I didn't waste precious time that night when I called you I wish I remembered to say I'd do anything for you Maybe I pushed you away because I thought that I'd bore you Listen, so close but we were so distant Wish I'da known in that instant Ignored the hints or I missed it I, killed it You'd always be in attendance No flights but always attendant Handwritten letter, you penned it Them nights we wished never ended Those rules that we wish we bended Heartbreak that we never mended Those messages we unsended Best friends we somehow unfriended Ain't care 'bout who we offended Parties they wish we attended Got drunk and laughed, it was splendid I wish I'da hugged you tighter the last time that I saw you I wish I didn't waste precious time that night when I called you I wish I remembered to say I'd do anything for you Maybe I pushed you away because I thought that I'd bore you Starlight, starbright, first star I see tonight Wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight Starlight, starbright, first star I see tonight Wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight Bombs away, bombs away Bombs away, bombs away Dream about you Dream about you Dream about you I still dream about you I wish I'da hugged you tighter the last time that I saw you I wish I didn't waste precious time that night when I called you I knew that moment I met you that I'd always adore you Maybe I pushed you away because I thought that I'd Bore you

Oh, southern star, how I wish you would shine And show me the way to get home Well I'm blue-collar branded, and stuck in a mill Hard work is a way of life for me Well I'm too young to live like I'm over the hills And too old to be wild and free. My heart is onward bound. I'm rolling with the feeling and I can't slow down I need a guiding light. Shining down to lead me through the night Oh, southern star, how I wish you would shine And show me the way to get home. Oh, hey my D.J. friend, would you play me one more song And let my mind just go and drift away Now we all have a dream... and a place where we belong Somewhere we can go and escape. My heart is onward bound. I'm rolling with the feeling and I can't slow down ...I need a guiding light. Shining down to lead me throught the night Oh, southern star, how I wish you would shine And show me the way to get home. Oh, southern star, how I wish you would shine And show me the way to get home...