Standing on a corner in downtown L.A.,
waiting for the man to come along.
She comes up to me and says, "too bad, too sad",
you know that he's been dead and gone.
L.A. ´lady, kinda shady, she picked him up and took him (home.)
I woke up groggy, my sight was smoggy,
and I knew that it had been blown.
Early in the morning, sitting in a hotel,
Moscow's looking fine through the wine.
Spaced out I crashed out,
when the K.G.B. came on my line.
It's a cold one, being sent down, it's gotta be fifty be(low).
Mama, here's a postcard to let you know,
I'm in a saltmine and looking for coal.
Shanghai'd in Shanghai, stood on in Tucson.
ripped off and kicked right out the b ed.
Flyin' 'cross the desert from Texas to Tucson,
but we're headed for the southern star.
The captain says, it's fine in Havana,
this dude behind me needs a cigar.
He's a big one, he's got a big gun, I guess, we better go a(long).
Mister, we got a gig in Arizona,
second billing to the Rolling Stones.
Shanghai'd in Shanghai, stood on in Tucson.
ripped off and kicked right out the b ed.
Shanghai'd in Shanghai, laid low in 'Frisco,
done in and left behind for d ead.
Shanghai'd in Shanghai,
Shanghai'd in Shanghai