1. |
Smokin' On Bali Shag
03:48
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Wednesday morning I woke up late
Not so hungry but I ate
Eggs and white toast on a plate
With a black coffee I contemplate
Doing my laundry but I hate
Wasting my day so I debate,
Watching TV talking about
Current unemployment rate
I looked for a cigarette in my pocket
Cause I forget I quit smoking so many years ago
But who cares how long I can live this life?
It's no one else's business if I don't have a wife
I take it easy with no trouble and strife
It's like I'm walking on the ...
"Bon chiki ba ban, bon chiki ba ban!"
Smoking on Bali Shag I rolled up leaning against the wall
Oh I'm feeling lazy and gray
Ooo "c'est la vie" like smoke goes up and then ashes fall
In search of a bright & happy day
Wanna go to a bar but I can't
I got drunk like an elephant
Today I feel like a tiny ant
Here in Bedford-Stuyvesant
Let me roll another cigarette
Thinking of the girl that I met
Kissed on her cheek after the set
Playing in a band, that's what I get
I would have never made it this far, had I never had my guitar
While an average boy choose to buy himself a car
Oh where's my day going through the cloud?
Somewhere I hear the hip-hop music playing loud
Just take it easy, no need to overcrowd my head
Otherwise, I would go "bon chiki ba ban, bon chiki ba ban!"
Smoking on Bali Shag, what's her name? I can't recall
Oh can't believe she's still seventeen!
Ooo "c'est la vie" like smoke goes up and then ashes fall
And I live somewhere in between
(SOLO)
Smoking on Bali Shag I rolled up leaning against the wall
Oh I'm singing Doris Day!
"Que sera sera" like smoke goes up and then ashes fall
In search of a bright & happy day
Smoking on Bali Shag I rolled up leaning against the wall
Oh I'm feeling lazy and gray
Ooo "c'est la vie" like smoke goes up and then ashes fall
In search of a bright & happy day
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2. |
Back To Jakarta
04:56
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I came from Jakarta long time ago
To find good living, to earn some bread you know
I like my country but there's no employment
I couldn't stay, so I went
To New York city where I found a job
To New York city where I met my friend Bob
He asked me one day, "you like it here?"
So I said, "No, let's make it clear"
I don't like this life at all
Just like walking on the ball
I don't like this life at all
One day I wanna go back to my Jakarta
I came from Jakarta, I work at a restaurant
Saw John Travolta at the same restaurant
I like this country, don't get me wrong
I shouldn't have stayed this long
It's New York city, what can you say?
It's New York city, what more can you say?
And all my friends' gone back to their lands
Now living life as it's planned
I don't like this life at all
Just like walking on the ball
I don't like this life at all
One day I wanna go back to my Jakarta
La la la ...
It's New York city, what can you say?
It's New York city, what more can you say?
So should I stay just five more years?
That's what I said five years ago!
I don't like this life at all
Just like walking on the ball
I don't like this life at all
One day I wanna go back to my Jakarta
Back to my Jakarta
La la la ...
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3. |
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I work in a grocery store
May have told you once before
As well as I'm a singer in a band
Don't you know?
Everyone I know, they say
Rather shocked and in dismay
How long are you gonna live like this?
Can't you see the reality?
No girlfriend, no security
You're almost on your own in this babylon
You may last a year or two
And then what are you gonna do?
Aren't you afraid of being all alone?
Yes, I'm afraid like everybody else
Yes I do fear another day I face
With my bet I place
Every single day of life,
Hoping one day my dreams will come true
I can be nobody else but just myself
And I will take the blame
And I won't be ashamed even if I hit the floor
Yes, I'm a rockstar in a grocery store
So my friend came back from a holiday
Lying on a beach, Caribbean bay
It's nice to get out of New York sometimes
Don't you think?
They give warnings for my fate
Find another job before it's too late
When was the last time you took vacation?
Everyday I go around
I eat breakfast in Chinatown
I see the world without taking an airplane
Here's Jamaican festival
I join the multi cultural parade
right through the sidewalk in the rain
I won't be afraid like everybody else
I no longer fear another day I face
In any case, every single day of life
is such a treasure in a secret drawer
Why be like somebody else?
When you're the only one that lives like you
and feels like you
I don't worry any more
Just call me a rockstar in a grocery store
Just let everybody know
Yes, I'm a rockstar in a grocery store
Working right next door
Counting singles in my hand
But at night I'm a singer in a band
La la la ...
I let the stars above decide my fate
and I just can't wait
for tomorrow, that's for sure
Yes, I'm a rockstar in a grocery,
Rockstar in a grocery,
Rockstar in a grocery store!
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4. |
My Freedom
05:47
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Every day, underneath Manhattan bridge
I sip coffee that's eighty cents
Every day, on a bench under the bridge
I dream of the world beyond the fence
Every day, I sit by the river
Look around there's a fishman on the reel
And I see across a flash of silver
It's my hope nobody can steal
Oh oh oh...
Oh oh oh...
So my freedom is in, in the song I sing by day
So my freedom is in the sound I play
Oh every day I'm less rich in my pocket
But you know I'm richer, you know I'm richer in my mind
Every day, I choose to be a runner
How far away is the place I am to get?
Sometimes I wanna sleep in woman's breasts
But I stay on the track that's for the best for you and me
Every day, I dream of Ethiopia
Every night, music comes to me
Every day, I can dream of Andulcia
Every night...
So my freedom is on, on the train I take by day
So my freedom is on the rusty rails
Oh every day I'm less rich in my pocket
But you know I'm richer, you know I'm richer in my mind
(Solo)
Oh we are living in New York City
Where things don't seem to get any pretty
Through the noise and the crowd I walk on
Till I meet people on their salty feet
Oh every day I'm less rich in my pocket
But you know I'm richer, you know I'm richer in my mind
Oh every day I'm less rich in my pocket
But you know I'm richer, you know I'm richer in my mind
In my mind, in my mind...
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5. |
Angel Baby
03:11
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Angel baby
Can you show me the way you always dance in Brazil?
Angel baby
I think I heard this sound and melody
Makes my heart dance, dance, dance
Angel baby
Please forgive if I step on your little feet
Angel baby
I think I had just one too many drinks tonight
But don't stop, and let me lean on a stool
I'll watch your every move
Angel baby, tonight my heart is stuck on you
La la la...
Angel baby
Can you tell me where you learned all the skills?
Angel baby
I'll try my best to stay in harmony
Angel
I didn't notice how quick time went by
Angel baby
You make me feel eternity is not enough time
to be with you, oh, so please stay in my view
Angel baby, tonight my heart is stuck on you
La la la...
Angel
Can you show me the way you always dance in Brazil?
Angel baby, angle baby
Angel baby, tonight my heart is stuck on you
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6. |
Life's A Thrill
04:57
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Before you give up on yourself
Why don't you girl just give it a try
Sometimes one try is not enough
If you wanna reach high above the sky
I say "ron chiki la ba la bun bun bu ba x 2"
There's always another chance
I say "ron chiki la ba la bun bun bu ba x 2"
If you take another glance
*Spiritual impact will come and lift you up
To a good state of mind
Now we can spread the words to the brothers in the world
who stay unbowed in the calamity of life
**All this time,
I've been learning
to experience life's a thrill
All the good times
are still ahead
I'm confirmed life's a thrill
It's always a shot in the dark
When you begin new phase of your life
But once you get hit by the spark
Just go take your inspirational flight
I say "ron chiki la ba la bun bun bu ba x 2"
It's never an easy climb
I say "ron chiki la ba la bun bun bu ba x 2"
Not trying is surely a crime
Spiritural contact is made, now you got the information
Now we can spread the words to the sisters in the world
who stand strong in their destiniy of life
***All this time,
I've been searching
the wisdom to prove life's a thrill
After all these years are gone
I'm still certain life's a thrill
*Repeat
**Repeat
***Repeat
La la la la Life's a thrill...
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7. |
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La la la...
She was a girl who was working almost every day in a bar
Behind my apartment building 301 west 42nd street
She was good at making drinks with some strange tropic names
Though she came all the way from the coldest country in the world
Some nights I was alone, the other nights there was some music
Playing some familiar melodies
No friend was needed as long as we had our conversation
La la la...
The girl from the coldest country in the world
Smiled me the coldest smile in the world
And vanished into the future of her fate
Beginnings always come with their ends
How long are we to pretend?
I fell in love with a girl from the north
That was long, long time ago
La la la...
She was a girl who liked talking about every movie she saw
About some Polish films or else some other European films
She told me all the places where she wanna travel and see
Before she goes back to the coldest country in the world
Oh every man has a desire to be a lonely stranger
With some stories he could spare inside
Kisses are always good after a slight hesitation
La la la...
The girl from the coldest country in the world
Smiled me the coldest smile in the world
And trapped me into believing in our fate
Will memeries remain unlost until eternity?
I fell in love with the girl from the north
(Solo)
The girl from the coldest country in the world
Smiled me the coldest smile in the world
And vanished into the future of her fate
Beginnings always come with their ends
How long are we to pretend?
I fell in love with a, I fell in love with a, I fell in love with
The girl from the coldest country in the world
La la la...
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8. |
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So many years have already passed me by
Was it I who has said a reflection can make you old?
So many tears have already filled my glass
And there's no such a thing as perfection, so I've been told
London town, I thought I was agressive enough to
break the chains of prisoners seeking an escape
In cafe, I have my last espresso cause outside
can't you see the police?
Jugglers are on the avenue
Newspaper writes nothing new
How come I took a life of crime
Outside is just a lovely view
They are now waiting for the cue
Oh well it's a perfect day to laugh aha
Just one mistake can make things go fall apart
Was it I who believed in the lesson of lifetime
Oh by the lake she's been waiting for my return
I can say with all my heart "oh grazie"
My perfect crime
White rose on the lapel was impressive
she said, now it turns into scarlet, there's no escape
In cafe, I have my last espresso
On the side, la la la Irish whiskey
Jugglers are on the avenue
Newspaper writes nothing new
How come I took a life of crime
Outside is just a lovely view
They are now waiting for the cue
Oh well it's a perfect day to laugh aha
La la la...
Jugglers are on the avenue
Newspaper writes nothing new
How come I took a life of crime
Outside is just a lovely view
They are now waiting for the cue
Oh well it's a perfect day to laugh aha
La la la...
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9. |
Greencard Bride
04:52
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Immigration man designed to clean this town
Let's hide in the sand or stay underground
Next morning at lawyer's office
Elevator two floors up
Two hundred bucks for a consultation
After talking for twenty minutes
It can be done if you really want
Just fill out all the information
We always sympathize with the people like you
We help you exercise your rights all way through
But there's one easy way out
Find a citzen girl and marry her
Di di da da da di da
Di di da da da di da
Help me here
Wont' you be my, won't you be my, won't you be my green card bride?
But don't say a word to the Arizona border police
It's been so many years since we came to this land
And we live with growing fears which we learned to withstand
When opportunity even knocks, we can't still unlock the door
In fact we are ready to escape from the window
But we can never turn back the clock, we built our lives around the block
We are living in between shadows and rainbows
But please do understand
No one is proud to do this thing
Di di da da da di da
But money talks
Wont' you be my, won't you be my, won't you be my green card bride?
But don't say a word to the Arizona border police
Pa payapa paya pa payapa...
Wont' you be my, won't you be my, won't you be my green card bride?
Wont' you be my, won't you be my, won't you be my green card bride?
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10. |
Gypsy Connection
04:25
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A while ago, I was lost in a town
Where I was almost gonna have a nervous breakdown
As I walked through the door underground
Well I saw on the floor people were dancing to the marvelous sound!
Let me ask you,
"Mama, tell me, what's this music playing around?"
"Mama, tell me, what's this beat that knocks me down?"
Ra pa pa ba ba ba ... Baby don't you get it now?
Ra pa pa ba ba ba ... Baby if you don't, just stay in touch,
Gypsy connection
Ra pa pa pa ra ...
Jiguruda, jiguruda ... ra pa ra ha
Oh yes, I'm a New York country boy
Trying to play it cool and nonchalant
But the night is so exuberant and so hipnotic
Come on let it do the trick
Let me ask you,
"Mama, tell me, where's this music coming from?"
"Mama, look what all these people have become" Awesome!
Ra pa pa ba ba ba ... Baby don't you get it now?
Ra pa pa ba ba ba ... Baby if you don't, just stay in touch,
Gypsy connection
Let's go!
(Solo)
Let me ask you,
Mama, tell me, what's this music playing around?"
"Mama, tell me, what's this beat that's knocking me down?"
Get down!
(2nd Solo)
Ra pa pa ba ba ba ... Baby if you don't, just stay in touch,
Now!
Ra pa pa ...
Dibidi dabada dibidi dabada di dadarn!
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11. |
Lonely Rose Vendor
04:31
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So I've been working many hours
Selling just flowers, making my way through late night crowd
I was in a funk, my feelings have all sunk
Down into the ocean of the tears
Someone called me a coward
Even I got showered with the words
That did not make me proud
But I guess it's a part of the job I have
Life is not always as it appears
Passion is easy to lose like an old magazine you've read before
La la la
Passion is easily forgot if you don't take good care of it
Man, have I got any more of them left?
Don't call me a lonely rose vendor
Cause I can help somebody wear a smile
Don't call me a lonely rose vendor
Even if just for a while
Don't call me a lonely rose vendor
Cause I can help you express your love in style
Don't call me a lonely rose vendor
Even if just for a while
La la la la...
Well so here somebody's missing
That I was always kissing
She disappeared into the night
It's like there is a hole in my heart
That she stole
It's a love I should have never known
Here I go again with the late night crowd
La la la life goes on with or without
Everything you've learned as time goes around in a spiral
But how can we be sure?
Passion is easy to lose like an old magazine you've read before
La la la
Passion is something you just can't refill like a gasoline
Man, I go down every now and then but,
Don't call me a lonely rose vendor
Cause I can help somebody wear a smile
Don't call me a lonely rose vendor
Even if just for a while
Don't call me a lonely rose vendor
Cause I can help you express your love in style
Don't call me a lonely rose vendor
Even if just for a while
La la la la...
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12. |
Song From Africa
04:37
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Got solitude in Nostrand Avenue
Felt gratitude in Lafayette Avenue
And the sky was blue for no one else but true
people that came from the land, land of Africa
Now you smell the scent of summer in the air
And the breeze just went through me down the stairs
If I'm the only fool who wanders all around
Just leave me playing underground in America
Every corner of this town I meet someone
Every corner of this town there's a ghost who ask me to sing
That song from Africa ah ah, that song from Africa ah ah
That song from Africa, can't you sing?
Oh oh la la la la la, oh oh la la la la la
My latitude now needs to be defined
With the magnitude of the stars that shine
I remember this time for I've been through some time
Thinking of the meaning of drifting through the years
Every corner of this town I meet someone
Every corner of this town there's a ghost who ask me to sing
That song from Africa ah ah, that song from Africa ah ah
That song from Africa, can't you sing?
(Solo)
That song from Africa ah ah, that song from Africa ah ah
That song from Africa ah ah, can't you sing me?
That song from Africa ah ah, that song from Africa ah ah
That song from Africa ah ah, can't you sing me?
That song from Africa ah ah, that song from Africa ah ah
That song from Africa...
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13. |
Morna
04:29
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Can't remember just how I managed to dance last night
Can't remember just how I managed to kiss you good night
Only thing that I do remember is not so much fun
So I will just drink it off of my mind
I'm sitting in a bar by the ocean just watching the sand
"Outra por favor" I emptied the glass in my hand
Only thing that I don't regret is the choice of the song
That I played on the jukebox in the back
Only thing that I wanted so much, only thing that I wanted so much
Is gone and there's no substitute
For the thing that I wanted so much, so many years have passed
My life has been of such solitude, la la la la la la la
Morna, morna, let me hear the band play like in Cabo Verde
Morna, morna, let my soul dance to the Morna
Você, você, você... Eu fui com saudade de você
Can't remember just how I managed to dance last night
Can't remember just how I managed to kiss you good night
Only thing that I do remember is not so much fun
So I will just drink it off of my mind
Only thing that I wanted so much, only thing that I wanted so much
Was just a fool's fantasy
Only thing that I wanted so much was just a way to escape
From all the things made of lunacy, la la la la la la la
Morna, morna, let me hear the band play like in Cabo Verde
Morna, morna, let my soul dance to the Morna
(Solo)
Only thing that I wanted so much, only thing that I wanted so much
Is gone and there's no substitute
For the thing that I wanted so much, so many years have passed
My life has been of such solitude, now play Morna!
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Kagero Brooklyn, New York
"Cultural Confusion". Kagero’s world music goulash is very tasty -- even if you don’t always know what’s you’re eating. Just call us your local neighborhood urban-gypsophonic, border-jumping, international debtor’s prison groove-loving feel-good band next door. ... more
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