These are the lyrics for the version of "American Without Tears" that appears on "King Of America." The actual lyrics for this song are:
December 1965 in Caracas
When Arnie LaFlamme took his piece of the pie
When he packed up the casino chips, the IOU, & the abacus
& switched off the jukebox in a "A Fool Such As I"
He was a leg man who was open to offers
But he couldn't get her off his mind as he passed the tourist office
& as he entertained himself singing just like Sammy Davis Junior
He toyed with a trip to Miami
For money like that
He could have sweet talk in your ear
Now they don't speak any English
Just American without tears
It was an idea that he dandled on his knee
& nursed it like his coffee cup when he couldn't find any other way
It always seemed to come to him while the day was dipping down
& sun was like a light bulb being swallowed by a clown
He took her for everything, he took her for his only one
He took her out of Coventry & over to Idaho
But the war wound that he carried home wasn't really visible
When the bullets were forgotten, she lived dowdy, down, & miserable
& she seemed to be crying for year after year
& said, "You don't speak any English
Just American between tears."
"Arnie," she said to me, "Will you turn down the radio?
You haven't slept a wink since we came to Havana.
When're you gonna get the strength to go over to Florida?
All you ever listen to is 'The Voice of America.'"
It was the story of a young English poppet
Who took up with a soldier boy & thought she would profit
Just like me she found out what true love is about
Anyway, she's in New Orleans; it would never work out
Oh, she seemed to be crying for year after year
Now you don't speak any English
Just American between tears
Just American without tears
For you seem to be crying for year after year
Now you don't speak any English
Just American without tears
Just American without tears
These are the lyrics for the version of "American Without Tears" that appears on "King Of America." The actual lyrics for this song are:
December 1965 in Caracas When Arnie LaFlamme took his piece of the pie When he packed up the casino chips, the IOU, & the abacus & switched off the jukebox in a "A Fool Such As I"
He was a leg man who was open to offers But he couldn't get her off his mind as he passed the tourist office & as he entertained himself singing just like Sammy Davis Junior He toyed with a trip to Miami
For money like that He could have sweet talk in your ear Now they don't speak any English Just American without tears
It was an idea that he dandled on his knee & nursed it like his coffee cup when he couldn't find any other way It always seemed to come to him while the day was dipping down & sun was like a light bulb being swallowed by a clown
He took her for everything, he took her for his only one He took her out of Coventry & over to Idaho But the war wound that he carried home wasn't really visible When the bullets were forgotten, she lived dowdy, down, & miserable
& she seemed to be crying for year after year & said, "You don't speak any English Just American between tears."
"Arnie," she said to me, "Will you turn down the radio? You haven't slept a wink since we came to Havana. When're you gonna get the strength to go over to Florida? All you ever listen to is 'The Voice of America.'"
It was the story of a young English poppet Who took up with a soldier boy & thought she would profit Just like me she found out what true love is about Anyway, she's in New Orleans; it would never work out
Oh, she seemed to be crying for year after year Now you don't speak any English Just American between tears Just American without tears
For you seem to be crying for year after year Now you don't speak any English Just American without tears Just American without tears