Lyrics: City Lights (needs help!)

There is nothing like getting to the last mile of a tough 10-mile run and having this song hit my ears — I love it! It’s one of my favorites from Cap’n Swing. But those lyrics? HELP! This has been the hardest song for me to translate (which is why I saved it for last – haha!). It’s even worse because you think you hear things but it doesn’t make sense, and because Ric is Ric you can’t even say, “He would never write that…” He would write anything! Haha! So yes, I need help. Please feel free to take a listen and let me know what you hear. And please, don’t miss Benjamin’s amazing background vocals on the  third and fourth verses… oh my!

City Lights by Cap’n Swing

City lights, swinging scenes and money machines

Well, they’ll drain you from the pain

Yeah, oh, I’m singing at the Sea Stars on the slippery boulevard

You see there’s something wrong, there’s always something wrong

You do see there’s something wrong, (that’s right) there’s always something wrong

 

Huge arms???

Well I was given the come on, and I was paid with dead lights

And I was feeling like dynamite

I was pulling a look tonight

I can’t see my reflection, I can’t hear your rejection, I can’t feel your reception, I can’t hear your rejection

For one thing, there’s always something wrong, I gotta fix it up;  there’s always something wrong, I gotta fix it, fix this.

 

You had to frown at the picture

You had a telephone romance

You had a suit that was made of stone

And you had it coming in love pants

You had it tucked in a black box you pulled it out for your sister

You hear the dial, it went vroom vroom

You closed your eyes and you kissed her

 

You better open your crystal eyes, you better open your crystal eyes

You better open your crystal eyes, you better open your crystal eyes

 

Well I was dancing on sunsets and you golden girls with your shirts wet

Rockabilly, I’ll take chain

We were just sitting around in the silver rain

The war, it was crashing on TV

And television at CB’s

And I said, everybody was so high, everybody was so high, everybody was so high, everybody was so high

 

You say you want to get out of here

With your big fingers and ginger peel (??? appeal)

I think those kids would pop a tear

Everything ain’t too clear

 

I said, you know there’s not much I’m willing to think

??

I don’t know how you feelin’ but

I know you feel so… so fine

 

Superior contributors to the lifespan of etheria

Some mutants, they work… ???

???????????

 

You better open your crystal eyes, you better open your crystal eyes

You better open your crystal eyes, you better open your crystal eyes

 

You know I just can’t hear your symphony, and I can’t look at your tragedy, I can’t sing to your harmony; I can’t even see your pornography. I can’t even relate to your artistry, that’s pretty bad

I just want to be set free

??????????