Arabian Nights lyrics

Shrieks of sheikhs as they come across the movie screen

A thousand sand dune soldiers led by an Arabian queen

Harem girls move like Clancy's dancers through my dirty dreams

I wake up on the floor clutching a bed lamp

Mama comes in, she screams, "Whoa, you been out with that tramp again last night

That silver sequined Arab black bitch, you know, the one Mama don't like"

But, Mama, she sings me moontime melodies with this great Top 40 hook

Mama just stares and Papa don't care but he says, "Look Mama, the girl's alright, the girl's

alright"

He turns and says, "Tell me, son, what's the word?" 'Cause, you know, he can't hear

Papa the word's out on the curb but don't go near it

It's criticized as too absurd, even the animals fear it

Papa says, "Fetch me my flashlight, son," and he stumbles out the front door

So come out from behind your bunkers 'cause the liftoff's been a bust

Papa's gone and Mama's dead and buried in my rocket dust

Well, you're alone now for the first time, don't worry 'cause that's all right

All fear will completely disappear come the Arabian night

Hmmm

Now soundman smiles and turns the dials to set the meter reading rising

He pulls the singer's voice from out of his pocket to see if the audience likes it

And in the very first row sits sweet Jenny Row with a bell on her shoe and she wants him to make it

He flicks a switch but Jenny moves too fast and the audience sways to the sound of her shotgun blast

The manager comes running out from behind stage, says, "Check the band's arms for bullet holes, make that man roll up his sleeves"

The drummer shoots himself with cyanide then asked to be relieved

And me, I just say, "It's too crazy in here, which is the stage door out? I gotta get up tomorrow morning for work"

The promoter said, "Once you're in they all lead out, but what's the matter, man, ain't you heard?

There's a war going on on the outside and I'm paying you to sing like a bird

So get in and get tough or get up and get out 'cause things aren't too tight"

I said, "Don't worry, man, everything's gonna loosen up come the Arabian night

Oh yes, whoa, come the Arabian night"

Well, I got back in bed but outside my window I heard another gang fight

It's Duke and the boys against The Devil's best men and both sides have drawn their knives

Now Duke he's a well known knife fighter and with one quick jab he brings The Devil down

He smiles 'cause he knows there's a good bounty on Devil's in any God fearing town

So Duke sold The Devil to some priest in Pennsylvania to exhibit on his altar Christmas night

But The Devil's eyes, they're still burn red with fire as long as Duke walks upright

And he swears there's going to be a showdown come sundown on the Arabian night

Whoa, on the Arabian, the Arabian, Arabian night

• Artist:Bruce Springsteen
• Album:1972