[Verse 1]
The rain slammed hard as bars, it caught me by surprise
Mutt of the planet and shook me down for alibis
I'm waiting for the keeper to release me
Debating this sentence, biding my time
In memories of old friends of mine
In daydreams of Birdland
I see my soul on fire, burning up the bandstand

[Chorus 1]
Next time I'll be bigger, I'll be better than ever
I'll be happily attached to my cold hard cash
But now Manhattan holds me to a chair in the sky
With the Bird in my ears and boats in my eyes going by

[Verse 2]
There's things I wish I'd done, old friends I'm gonna miss
Beautiful lovers I never got the chance to kiss
Daydreamin' drugs the pain of living
Processions of missing lovers and friends
Fade in and they fade out again
In daydreams of rebirth
I see myself in style, raking in what I'm worth

[Chorus 2]
Next time I'll be bigger, I'll be better than ever
I'll be resurrected royal, I'll be rich as Standard Oil
But now Manhattan holds me to a chair in the sky
With the Bird in my ears and boats in my eyes going by