The Manhattan Transfer
" Boy From New York City And Other Hits "

Purchase the CD here


Tracks:
1. Boy From New York City (3:40)
2. Java Jive (2:46)
3. Gloria (2:58)
4. Helpless (3:07)
5. Tuxedo Junction (3:04)
6. Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone (6:06)
7. Ray's Rockhouse (5:08)
8. Mystery (5:00)
9. Smile Again (4:33)
10. Birdland (6:01)

Flahback Records, a division of Rhino Entertainment, released this album in late 1997 as part of a series of compilations of original artist recordings at a reduced price.
L Y R I C S

This archive is furnishing these lyrics to be used only for purposes of private study, scholarship, or research. A user who copies such items for other uses may be in violation of copyright laws. Many items in this archive do not contain individual copyright notices. The lack of a notice does not necessarily mean than the work is not protected by copyright law.

BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY
By John Taylor & George Davis

Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City
Ooo wah, ooo wah c'mon kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City

He's kind of tall
He's really fine
Some day I hope to make him mine, all mine
And he's neat
And oh so sweet
And just the way he looked at me
He swept me off my feet
Ooo whee, you ought to come and see
How he walks
And how he talks

Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City

He's really down
And he's no clown
He has the finest penthouse I've ever seen in town
And he's cute
In his mohair suit
And he keeps his pockets full of spending loot
Ooo whee, say you ought to come and see
His dueling scar
And brand new car

Every time he says he loves me
Chills run down my spine
Every time he wants to kiss me
He makes me feel so fine
Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City

Well he can dance
(He can dance, take a chance with a little ro-)
And make romance
(mance baby, cause he's a looker)
That's when I feel in love
With just one glance
(He's sweet talking and cool)

He was shy
And so was I
And now I know I'll never, ever say goodbye
Ooo whee, say you ought to come and see
He's the most
From coast to coast

Ooo wah, ooo wah cool, cool kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City
Ooo wah, ooo wah c'mon kitty
Tell us about the boy from New York City





JAVA JIVE
Music by Ben Oakland, Lyric by Milton Drake

I love coffee, I love tea,
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me,
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!

I love java sweet and hot,
Whoops, Mister Moto, I'm a coffee pot
Shoot me the pot, and I'll pour me a shot,
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!

Oh slip me a slug from the wonderful mug
and I'll cut a rug 'til I'm snug in a jug
A slice of onion and a raw one,
Draw one!
Waiter, waiter, percolator!

I love coffee, I love tea,
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me,
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!

Boston beans (soy beans)
I said the little itty-bitty green bean
(cabbage n' greens)
You know that I'm not keen about a bean, unless it is a
chili chili bean! (Talk it, boy!)

I love java sweet and hot,
Whoops, Mister Moto, I'm a coffee pot (yeah)
You shoot me the pot, and I'll pour me a shot,
A cup, a cup, a cup, 'an dat zat bootle!

Blow me a slug from that wonderful mug
And I'll cut a rug that's snug in a jug
Drop a nickel in my pot - Joe
Takin' it slow
Waiter, waiter percolator

I love coffee, I love tea,
I love the Java Jive an' it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup - BOY!





GLORIA
By Esther Navarro

Gloria
Gloria
It's not Marie
Gloria
It's not Cherie
Gloria (Gloria)
But she's not in love with me

Can't you see
It's not Marie
Gloria
It's not Cherie
Gloria (Gloria)
But she's not in love with me

And maybe (maybe)
She'll want me (want me)
But who am I to know (who am I to know)
And maybe (ooh, maybe)
She'll want me (ooh, want me)
But who am I to know (who am I to know)
Oh---

Gloria (Gloria)
It's not Marie
Gloria (Gloria)
It's not Cherie
Gloria (Gloria)
'Cause she's not in love with me

Gloria!





HELPLESS
By Eddie Holland/Lamont Dozier/Brian Holland

Every day I walk some lonely street
Searchin' 'til you come back to me
People around just stop and stare
as if they know the hurt I bear
And suddenly I realize

I'm in a helpless situation
And I need some consolation
'Cause my mind is in a confusion
And I'm having these strange illusions
Since you've been gone I've been cryin' cryin' cryin' cryin'

Without a word without a warning
you left my life on early morning
Did I lean on you a little too strong
Too much of you I depended on
All at once I'm alone

I'm in a helpless situation
And I need some consolation
'Cause my mind is in a confusion
And I'm having these strange illusions
Since you've been gone I've been cryin' cryin' cryin' cryin'

In the shelter of your love my strength I found
But now I'm useless, darlin', since you're not around
I'm helpless baby

Sax solo
Background voices "Need some consolation, I need it, need it"

Baby baby I'm helpless since I lost your love
Helpless 'cause now I need your love
I need your words of confidence (need it, need it)
I need those happy times we spent
Since you've been gone

I'm in a helpless situation
And I need some consolation
'Cause my mind is in a confusion
And I'm having these strange illusions
All at once it hit me, I'm alone I'm alone

Oh helpless
since I lost your love
Helpless
'Cause now I need your love
I never needed no one before
but now I need you more and more
I'm helpless 'til you come back to me
Helpless....(to fade)





TUXEDO JUNCTION
BY Buddy Feyne, William Johnson, Julian Dash & Erskine Hawkins

Boop bop, Boop Bop
Boop bop, Boop Bop
Boop bop, Boop Bop
Boop bop, Boop Bop

Way down South, in Birmingham
I mean South, in Alabam'
There's a place
Where people go to dance the night away

It's a junction
Where the town folk meet
At each function in their best they'll greet you

Sax solo

Scat solo

Way down South, in Birmingham
I mean South, in Alabam'
That old place

Boop bop, Boop Bop
Boop bop, Boop Bop
Boop bop, Boop Bop
Boop bop, Boop Bop

Way down South, in Birmingham
I mean South, in Alabam'
'Ans old place
Where people go to dance the night away
They all drive or walk for miles
To get blues - that southern style,
So blue - it'll make you want to dance the night away
Tuxedo Junction - where I want to be





TWILIGHT TONE
By Alan Paul and Jay Graydon, Lyrics by Alan Paul

When I hear this melody
This strange illusion takes over me
Through a tunnel of the mind
Perhaps a present or future time oh, oh
Out of nowhere comes this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round & 'round
Pyramidal locomotion
From a mystic unknown zone

Hearin' the twilight
Hearin' the twilight tone

Unpretentious girl from Memphis
Saw the future through her third eye
People came with skepticism
Picking, testing her precision, no, wo, oh, oh
Suddenly they heard this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round & 'round
A signpost up ahead is calling
Through the mystic unknown zone

Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, feelin' the rhythm
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, ba da, loo da, ba da loo da
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight tone

Submitted for your approval. One Mr. Miller, who's about
to take a trip into oddness and obsolescene, through a
zone whose boundaries are that of imagination.
Accompanying him on this journey is the mesmerizing
sound of the Twilight Tone.

On a cold & rainy night
One Mister Miller had a rare flight
Glen was up there boppin' a rhythm
Then the engine stopped to listen with him
Play that beat, oh, oh
Suddenly he heard this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round & 'round
Now he resides and plays trombone
In the mystic unknown zone

Hearin' the twilight
(Ooooooh, twilight)
Hearin' the twilight
(Hearin' the twilight)





RAY'S ROCKHOUSE
Music by Ray Charles - Lyrics by Jon Hendricks

Ray's Rockhouse, that's my joint
House of soul, git my point
We don't care what's your blues
Come in here, lose yo' blues
When trouble comes a-knockin'
Everything looks better while y'rockin'
You don't notice trouble while y'rockin'
Rock! (Repeat for 12 bars)

(Chorus)
Let's rock! That's what we're offerin' you
Let's rock! That's what we wantcha' t'do
Let's rock! Rock all y' troubles away
Let's rock! Rock till the dawnin' o'day
Let's rock! Rockhouse is ready t'roll
Let's rock! Rockhouse is good f'th'soul

Ev'ry Saturday night there's a scene
That's a part o'the fun
Mrs. Tucker will enter the joint
In a search for her son
Every Saturday night he sneaks out
Leavin' her in the lurch
But she's lookin' t'bring him on home
'Cause tomorrow is church
She really hates the rockhouse
She's sure the devil is in control here
Nothin' but rock'n'roll here

Yodle-dole-dole (Echo) Lady who
gotr a lotta rockin' to do
Swing - whatta y'waitin' for
We got plenty o'soul for you

Everybody gotta loosen your hip
Do a few rolls wait'll y'feel
Y'back'll slip then y'rockin'
Rock!

(Repeat Chorus)

Sisters of the flockhouse
Ain't got no business comin' to th'rockhouse
All the people in here
Are all in t'sin in here
Of this there's no doubt
That's why Miz' Tucker is pullin' Sam out
Rock!

(Repeat Chorus)





MYSTERY
By Rod Temperton

Turnin' back the hands of time
Holdin' on to misty memories
Chasin' shadows thru the night
Tryin' to find that happy ending
Reaching out for another chance at heaven
We can still find the way if we try

You gotta believe in the mystery
How it used to be
We were more than lonely drifters in the dark
Oh I can remember the sun inside
When love held us tight
Can't you see I need that magic in my heart
Instead of it tearing apart

Diamonds shinin' in the night
Lyin' soft and warm together
Only images survive
Can't this dream go on forever?
There is still time to lock away the sadness
Let the secrets of love start to smile

It's only believin' the mystery
Like it used to be
Baby bring back all the passion to my life
Oh don't you remember the tender days
All the love we made
Can't we feel that warm sensation here tonight, oh....

Lonely spirits seem to whisper in the wind
It's a silent song that's never meant to be
Since the dawn of time the mystery never ends
We can find forever
If we let love rise again

Won't you reach for another
chance at heaven
We can still find the way if we try

It's only believin' in the mystery
How it used to be
Baby bring back all the passion to my life
Oh cause I can remember the tender days
All the love we made
I need to feel that warm sensation - oh baby

Mystery
How it used to be
We were oh so much more
Oh baby, don't you remember (sun inside)
(held us tight)
Love held us tight
Turn around and look at me baby
Oh we gotta get back, gotta get back, gotta get back, gotta get back
Please take me there -
Oh I remember all the passion
Tender days - all the love we made
And I need to feel you baby....





SMILE AGAIN
(Dedicated to Angela from Alan)
Music by Jay Graydon, David Foster & Bill Champlin
Lyrics by Alan Paul

Endless nights
I'd play solitaire
Imagining that you were here
One night flights
Such heartless affairs
They froze the hopes of love in me
You suddenly appeared
Melted all my fears
Filled me with the love I need

You make me smile again
Like a child of three
And I believe it will turn out right baby
Oh you make me smile again
Hold me in your arms
Oh love, my love

Heart to heart
Our souls intertwine
Make love and float away with me
Twins of flame
A love so divine
I want to spend my life around you
Now, now I have the strength
Now I have the hopes
You give me all I need

To make me smile again
Like a child of three
And I believe it will work out right
Oh you make me smile again
Hold me in your arms
Oh love, my love

You make me smile again
Like a child of three
Oh I believe we'll live a dream for two
Oh you make me smile again
Hold me in your arms
Oh love, my love





BIRDLAND
By Zawinul & Jon Hendricks

5,000 light years from Birdland
But I'm still preachin' the rhythm
Long-gone, uptight years from Birdland
An' I'm still teachin' it with 'em

Years from the land of the Bird
An' I am still feelin' the spirit
5,000 light years from Birdland
But I know people can hear it

Bird named it, Bird made it, Bird heard it, then played it
Well-stated! Birdland--
it happened down in Birdland

Oh!

In the middle of that hub
I remember one jazz club
Where we went to pat feet
Down on fifty-secon' street

Everybody heard that word
That they named it after Bird

Where the rhythm swooped and swirled
The jazz corner of the world

An' the cats they gigged in there
Were beyond compare

Birdland - I'm singin' Birdland
Birdland - Ol' swingin' Birdland

Hey, man, the music really turns you on!
Y' turn me on,
Really, y' turn me aroun'
'N turn me on

Down them stairs, lose them cares - where?
Down in Birdland
Total swing, bop was king - there
Down in Birdland
Bird would cook, May would look - where?
Down in Birdland
Miles came through, 'Trane came too - there
Down in Birdland
Basie blew, Blakey too - where?
Down in Birdland
Cannonball played that hall - there
Down in Birdland
Yeah---

There may never be nothin' such as that
No Mo' - No Mo'
Down in Birdland, that's where it was at
I know - I know
Back in them days bop was ridin' high
Hello! 'n goodbye!

How well those cats remember
Their first Birdland gig
To play in Birdland is an honor we still dig
Yeah---that club was like--
In another world, sure enough--
Yeah, baby
All o' the cats had the cookin' on
People just sat an' they was steady lookin' on
Then Bird--he came 'n spread the word--
Birdland

Yes, indeed, he did
Yes, indeed, he did
Yes, indeed, he did
Yes, he did, Parker played at Birdland
Yes, he really did
Yes, indeed, he really did
Yes, he really did
Told the truth down in Birdland
Yes, indeed he did, Charlie Parker played in
Birdland

Yes, indeed, he really did
Charlie Parker played in Birdland

Bird named it, Bird made it, Bird heard it,
Then played it
Well-stated! Birdland
It happened down in Birdland

Everybody dug that beat
Everybody stomped their feet
Everybody digs be-bop
An' they'll never stop

Down them stairs, lose them cares - yeah!
Down in Birdland
Total swing! bop was king - yeah!
Down in Birdland

Bird would cook, May would look - yeah,
Down in Birdland
Miles came through, 'Trane came too - yeah!
Down in Birdland
Basie blew, Blakey too - yeah!
Down in Birdland

Cannonball played that hall - yeah
Down in Birdland

Down them stairs, lose them cares - yeah
Down in Birdland
Total swing! bop was king - yeah
Down in Birdland

Bird would cook, May would look - yeah,
Down in Birdland
Miles came through, 'Trane came too - yeah!
Down in Birdland

Basie blew, Blakey too - yeah!
Down in Birdland
Cannonball played that hall - yeah
Down in Birdland

Down them stairs, lose y' cares -yeah
Down in Birdland
Total swing! bop was king - yeah
Down in Birdland

Bird would cook, May would look - yeah,
Down in Birdland

Background Solo:
Come in pairs down them stairs, lose y' cares
Them that dares gits it!

Pay the gate, don't be late
It's a date! - whattay' know
If y' dig, then you'll dig, it's a groove
Quite a groove, 'cause y' t' move
Come in twos, pay your dues

What can you lose?
Just your blues!
So lose them!

The band swingin' one and all and what a ball!
Yeah!

Music is good, music is better than good
Pretty good
Very nice
Really very good - things are bein' like they should
Very good -- very good -- very good

All y' gotta do is lend an ear
An' listen to it
Then y' dig a little sooner than soon
You'll be diggin' everything diggin' all the music

What a ball!

How y' gonna figure out
A way t' bring it all about amid a
Lot o' other music on the set'n on
The scene know what I mean?
How y' gonna separate the music from the scene
'Gonna have t' keep the memory clean
Y' gonna hear a lotta' sound -- a lotta soun'



RETURN to Discography Page

© 2005 The Manhattan Transfer Fan Club