And they wandered in
From the city of St. John
Without a dime
Wearing coats that shined
Both red and green
Colors from their sunny island
From their boats of iron
They looked upon the promised land
Where surely life was sweet
On the rising tide
To New York City
Did they ride into the street
See the glory
Of the royal scam

They are hounded down
To the bottom of a bad town
Amid the ruins
Where they learn to fear
An angry race of fallen kings
Their dark companions
While the memory of
Their southern sky was clouded by
A savage winter
Every patron saint
Hung on the wall, shared the room
With twenty sinners

See the glory
Of the royal scam

By the blackened wall
He does it all
He thinks he's died and gone to heaven
Now the tale is told
By the old man back home
He reads the letter
How they are paid in gold
Just to babble in the back room
All night and waste their time
And they wandered in
From the city of St. John without a dime

See the glory
Of the royal scam


Lyrics submitted by tpsully

The Royal Scam Lyrics as written by Walter Carl Becker Donald Jay Fagen

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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The Royal Scam song meanings
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23 Comments

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  • +2
    My Opinion

    lisalambchop nailed it, methinks, with the San Juan interpretation. I had immigrants in general coming to the "land of opportunity" only to find their dreams broken, living oppressed and without hope in the bad part of town. They cycle repeats itself as they write letters home to put a good face on things.

    Dang...these are some edgy lyrics:

    "Where they learn to fear An angry race of fallen kings Their dark companions"

    strangemanon March 14, 2011   Link

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