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Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First) Lyrics
In a hand painted night, me and Gypsy Scotty are partners
At the Hotel Flamingo, wearin' black market shoes
This loud Cuban band is crucifying John Lennon
No one wants to be lonely, no one wants to sing the blues
She's perched like a parrot on his tuxedo shoulder
Christ, what's she doing with him she could be dancing with me
She stirs the ice in her glass with her elegant finger
I want to be what she's drinking, yeah I just want to be
I saw you first
I'm the first one tonight
I saw you first
Don't that give me the right
To move around in your heart
Everyone was lookin'
But I saw you first
On a moon-spattered road in her parrot rebozo
Gypsy Scotty is driving his big long yellow car
She flies like a bird over his shoulder
She whispers in his ear, boy, you are my star
But I saw you first
I'm the first one tonight
Yes I saw you first
Don't that give me the right
To move around in your heart
Everyone was lookin'
In the bone colored dawn, me and Gypsy Scotty are singin'
The radio is playin', she left her shoes out in the back
He tells me a story about some girl he knows in Kentucky
He just made that story up, there ain't no girl like that
But I saw you first
I'm the first one tonight
Yes I saw you first
Don't that give me the right
To move around in your heart
Everyone was lookin'
But I saw you first
I saw you first
I saw you first
At the Hotel Flamingo, wearin' black market shoes
This loud Cuban band is crucifying John Lennon
No one wants to be lonely, no one wants to sing the blues
Christ, what's she doing with him she could be dancing with me
She stirs the ice in her glass with her elegant finger
I want to be what she's drinking, yeah I just want to be
I'm the first one tonight
I saw you first
Don't that give me the right
To move around in your heart
Everyone was lookin'
But I saw you first
Gypsy Scotty is driving his big long yellow car
She flies like a bird over his shoulder
She whispers in his ear, boy, you are my star
I'm the first one tonight
Yes I saw you first
Don't that give me the right
To move around in your heart
Everyone was lookin'
The radio is playin', she left her shoes out in the back
He tells me a story about some girl he knows in Kentucky
He just made that story up, there ain't no girl like that
I'm the first one tonight
Yes I saw you first
Don't that give me the right
To move around in your heart
Everyone was lookin'
But I saw you first
I saw you first
I saw you first
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It could just be me....but this song reminds me so much of the great gatsby. the yellow car and kentucky and the sense of regret and jealousy and being at a party are all from great gatsby, i dont know, just sayin
I can definitely see the Gatsby influence. The girl comes off very socially adept and glamorous, as if she fills the space around her with magic, the kind that Gatsby would put on a pedestal. And the narrator can't imagine why she'd be with who she is, which fits Gatsby's perception of Daisy's relationship with the uncouth Tom. The imagery of the song and the warm buzz it creates wouldn't be out of place at one of Gatsby's roaring 20's shindigs.
I can definitely see the Gatsby influence. The girl comes off very socially adept and glamorous, as if she fills the space around her with magic, the kind that Gatsby would put on a pedestal. And the narrator can't imagine why she'd be with who she is, which fits Gatsby's perception of Daisy's relationship with the uncouth Tom. The imagery of the song and the warm buzz it creates wouldn't be out of place at one of Gatsby's roaring 20's shindigs.
I'm surprised that nobody has commented on this song. It is so beautiful lyrically. In my opinion, this song describes an infatuation with an alluring female a male character has met in a nightclub. I love the imagery in the lyrics; you could just picture it so well. I like the line: "She flies like a bird over his shoulder/she whispers in his ear, "boy, you are my star" It just seems so romantic in a way. i'd love to say that to someone :-)
I agree with mandmquess. Great lyrics in this song. "She stirs the ice in her glass with her elegant finger/I wanna be what she's drinkin', yeah I just want to be." Too bad they don't play this one on the radio half as much as they play "Our Country" on the damn TV commercials...
I also agree with mandmquess. Great song. Very under played and under rated.
Whenever I hear this song I imagine a luau happening under a dark blue sky. The images the song creates and the imagery of the lyrics are so vivid. This is a largely forgotten gem.
I noticed some inaccuracies above. I've got the CD "Mr. Happy Go Lucky" and according to the liner notes, here are the lyrics:
In a hand painted night, me and Gypsy Scotty are partners. At the hotel flamingo wearing blackmarket shoes. This loud cuban band is crucifying John Lennon. No wants to be lonely no wants to sing the blues.
She's perched like a parrot on a tuxedo shoulder. Christ, what's she doing with him? She should be dancing with me. She stirs the ice in her glass with her elegant finger. I want to be what she's drinking, yeah I just want to be.
CHORUS
I saw you first. I'm the first one tonight. I saw you first. don't that give me the right? To move around in your heart. Everyone was looking but I saw you first.
On the moon spattered road in her parrot rebozo. Gypsy Scotty is driving his big long yellow car. She's perched like a bird over his shoulder. She whispers in his ear, 'Boy you are my star'.
REPEAT CHORUS
In the bone colored dawn me and Gypsy Scotty are singing. The radio's playing she left her shoes out in the back. He tells me a story 'bout some girl from Kentucky. He just made that story up, there ain't no girl like that.
REPEAT CHORUS
This incidentally was Mellencamps last major hit song. I was about 18-19 when it came out and it really introduced me to his music. I never thought about the F. Scott Fitzgerald connection, however this is a gorgeous underrated song.
My brother and I were in a band together for many years and we'd do this song on occasion.
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