Shadowboxing (In the Rain)

Shadowboxin' in the rain up on 7th Avenue
Soaking broken memories that won't let go of you
Heart broke, throat choked, my brain is numb from pain
Smash my fist against the wall every time I speak your name

And if you want to find me, I will tell you where I'll be
On the steps of Roseland and 52nd Street
Sucking Gallo Muscatel, I keep it in a bag
Smash my eyes against the fence every time I see your face

Float on by on your high horse smellin' sweet
Promenadin' down the street
And you're no artist, just a country girl in harness
Who decided shе would paint her pain on me

Ridin' in a Cadillac up on 7th Avenuе
Smokin', cokin', jokin' with some colored boys I knew
And if I only had their brains, you know I'd have you on the street
Hustlin' tricks for nickels the way you hustled me

I'd be wearing sequined suits and alligator shoes
Drive the lime-green Cadillac up the Avenue
And I'd feed you supper through your arm to keep you on the hook
Whipping you with my cat-o'-nines and then I'd salt your wounds

Float on by on your high horse smellin' sweet
Promenadin' down the street
And you're no artist, just a country girl in harness
Who decided she would paint her pain on me

And now you come here like some angel in the night
Bringin' cigarettes, sympathy and coffee
Do you think that they'll make things right?
I'm destroyed and you're annoyed, you say I've lost contact

You bring me poems now
And bask in my shame
And I'm stuck without a lick of sense
Sittin' in the rain

Shadowboxin' in the rain of Massachusetts Avenue
Hitchhike up the turnpike to get away from you
And I know I'm just a city boy, Ill-bred, ill-fed, and ill-read
And you're the fine New England Lady with the devil in your head

And I hope your days are numbered
And when you're in the grave
Leeches suck the body
That you tried so hard to save

And I'm thinkin' 'bout a pretty young thing
That I met up in the woods
Cast aside my manly pride
Left me in the streets

Float on by on your high horse smellin' sweet
Promenadin' down the street
And you're no artist, just a country girl in harness
Who decided she would paint her pain on me

And here I am shadowboxin'
Shadowboxin' in the rain, in the rain
Twistin' lady, twistin' lady
Don't leave me now

Don't leave me now, don't leave me now
Now don't leave me now, leave me now
Don't leave me now
Don't leave me now
Don't leave me now
Don't leave me now
Don't leave me now

Don't leave me now, leave me now, leave me now
Don't leave me now
Don't leave me now, now, now
Don't leave me now
Now don't leave me now
Don't leave me now, don't leave me now
Don't leave me now, don't leave me now
Don't leave me now