Crest Of A Knave

I think she was a middle-distance runner...
(the translation wasn't clear).
Could be a budding stately hero.
International competition in a year.
She was a good enough reason for a party...
(well, you couldn't keep up on a hard track mile)
While she ran a perfect circle.
And she wore a perfect smile
In budapest... hot night in budapest.

We had to cozzy up in the old gymnasium...
Dusting off the mandolins and checking on the gear.
She was helping out at the back-stage...
Stopping hearts and chilling beer.
Yes, and her legs went on for ever.
Like staring up at infinity
Through a wisp of cotton panty
Along a skin of satin sea.
Hot night in budapest.

You could cut the heat, peel it back with the wrong side of a knife.
Feel it blowing from the sidefills. feel like you were playing for your life
(if not the money).
Hot night in budapest.

She bent down to fill the ice box
And stuffed some more warm white wine in
Like some weird unearthly vision
Wearing only t-shirt, pants and skin.
You know, it rippled, just a hint of muscle.
But the boys and me were heading west
So we left her to the late crew
And a hot night in budapest.
It was a hot night in budapest.

She didn't speak much english language...
(she didn't speak much anyway).
She wouldn't make love, but she could make good sandwich
And she poured sweet wine before we played.

Hey, budapest, cha, cha, cha. let's watch her now.

I thought i saw her at the late night restaurant.
She would have sent blue shivers down the wall.
But she didn't grace our table.
In fact, she wasn't there at all.
Yes, and her legs went on forever.
Like staring up at infinity.
Her heart was spinning to the west-lands
And she didn't care to be
That night in budapest.
Hot night in budapest.

As i wake up in a room somewhere...
Dawn light not yet showing.
There's just a thin horizon between me and her...
The edge of a half-dream glowing.

Well, you know, i felt her in my dream last night.
Strange how the sheets are warm beside me.
Now, how do i catch the waking edge?
As it slips to the far and wide of me.

Didn't i try to hold it down?
Freeze on the picture, hang sharp on the sound.
Catch the waking edge
Another time.

Familiar shadows in my hotel room
Are still here for the taking.
They seem to linger on as the street lights fade
And the empty dawn is breaking.

Private movie showing in my head...
Which button do i press for re-run?
And how do i catch the waking edge?
The edge of a dream about someone.

Well, you know, i felt her in my dream last night...
Now the sheets are cold beside me.

She said she was a dancer. if i believed it, it was my busines
She surely knew a thing or two about control.
Next to the bar we hit the samovar. she almost slipped right through my fingers.
It was snowing outside and in her soul.

Well, maybe you're a dancer, and maybe i'm the king of old siam.
I thought it through... best to let the illusion roll.
I wouldn't say i've never heard that tale before,
My frozen little señorita,
But if your dream is good, why not share it when the nights are cold?

Hey moscow, what's your story? lady, take your time, don't hurry.
Maybe a student of the agricultural plan.
Hey moscow, what's your name? if you don't want to say, don't worry.
It would probably be hard for me to make it scan.

With her phrase book in her silk soft hand
She spoke in riddles while the vodka listened.
I said, ``let me look up love, if i might be so bold.''
She was the nearest thing to rock and roll
That side of the velvet curtain
That separates eastern steel from western gold.

Hey miss moscow, what's your story?
You needn't speak aloud, just whisper.
Am i just the closest thing to an englishman?
You've seen me in your magazines, or maybe on state television.
I'm your pepsi-cola, but you won't take me out the can.
She said she was a dancer --- so she did.

She said she was a dancer. if i believed it, it was my business.
It felt like a merry dance that i was being led.
So i stole one kiss. it was a near miss.
She looked at me like i was jack the ripper.
She leaned in close. ``goodnight,'' was all she said.
So i took myself off to bed.

As the moon slips up, and the sun sets down,
I'm a highrise jockey, and i'm heaven-bound.
Do the workboot shuffle, loose brains from brawn.
I'm a monkey puzzle and the lid is on.

Can you guess my name? can you guess my trade?
I'm going to catch you anyway.
You might be right. i'll give you guesses three.
Feel me climbing up your knee.

Guess what i am. i'm a steel monkey.

Now some men hustle and some just think.
And some go running before you blink.
Some look up and some look down
From three hundred feet above the ground.

Can you guess my name? and can you guess my trade?
Well, i won't rest before the world is made.
Arm in arm the angels fly.
Keep me from falling out the sky.

Steel monkey.

I work in the thunder and i work in the rain.
I work at my drinking, and i feel no pain.
I work on women, if they want me to.
You can have me climb all over you.

Now, have you guessed my name?
And have you guessed my trade?
I'm cheap at the money i get paid.
In the sulphur city, where men are men,
We bolt those beams then climb again.

Steel monkey.

Nine miles of two-strand topped with barbed wire
Laid by the father for the son.
Good shelter down there on the valley floor,
Down by where the sweet stream run.
Now they might give me compensation...
That's not what i'm chasing. i was a rich man before yesterday.
Now all i have got is a cheque and a pickup truck.
I left my farm on the freeway.

They're busy building airports on the south side...
Silicon chip factory on the east.
And the big road's pushing through along the valley floor.
Hot machine pouring six lanes at the very least.
Now, they say they gave me compensation...
That's not what i'm chasing. i was a rich man before yesterday.
Now all i have left is a broken-down pickup truck.
Looks like my farm is a freeway.

They forgot they told us what this old land was for.
Grow two tons the acre, boy, between the stones.
This was no southfork, it was no ponderosa.
But it was the place that i called home.
They say they gave me compensation...
That's not what i'm chasing. i was a rich man before yesterday.
And what do i want with a million dollars and a pickup truck?
When i left my farm under the freeway.