Enjoy it. (c) 2022 Craig Herberg
D. C. Summer Night Lyrics
All songs © ℗ Craig Herberg
The Kid
They call him The Kid, and I really don’t know why
He’s afraid of growing up, but he’s not afraid to die
He rides a Harley D, a six-gun in his vest
I guess that he’ll die swearing that The Kid is the best
He smokes boatloads of green, his arm is scarred with tracks
He’s been gone for years now, ain’t never coming back
They call him The Kid, they call him The Kid
They call him The Kid, they call him The Kid
Let me tell you ‘bout The Kid
He stands ‘bout six foot five, he’s such an awful sight
He’s got a lot of bark, and sports a wicked bite
His Harley’s his old lady, he has no other queen
Cuz not too many ladies want a dude burned out on green
He rides all by himself, other bikers put him down
They always disappear when The Kid rides into town
They call him The Kid, they call him The Kid
They call him The Kid, they call him The Kid
Look out for The Kid
Here comes The Kid
They call him The Kid, they call him The Kid
They call him The Kid, they call him The Kid
They call me The Kid
Queen of Darkness
She’s the Queen of Darkness, the girl in an old man’s dreams
She call herself an angel, but she ain’t quite what she seems
She’ll bring you down, she’ll drag you down, she’ll rearrange your life
When she gets you where she wants you, she’ll cut you with her knife
She’ll take away your money, she’ll take away your pride
A modern day Lolita, she’ll take you for a ride
This girl ain’t no angel, and Lord, she is no saint
She’s sharpening her claws for you, in her satin vest and paint
She’s the Queen of Darkness, she’s ready and she’s mean
Long as you are able, she’ll gladly be your queen
She’s the Queen of Darkness – Darkness! Darkness!
She’s the Queen of Darkness – Darkness! Darkness!
She’s the Queen of Darkness – Darkness! Darkness!
She’s just another sinner in a world that has no saints
Her shadow’s just like yours and mine, don’t try to say it ain’t
She’s a drifter and a loser, a prisoner of lust
Every time she has a dream, it always turns to dust
She stares into the distance with hope but not a cause
As she grins a wicked grin, she’s sharpening her claws
I’ll scare up some white lady, and chill a jug of wine
Don’t waste the time to call the queen, tonight the queen is mine!
She’s the Queen of Darkness, she’s ready and she’s mean
Long as you are able, she’ll gladly be your queen
She’s the Queen of Darkness – Darkness! Darkness!
She’s the Queen of Darkness – Darkness! Darkness!
She’s the Queen of Darkness – Darkness! Darkness!
Black Book Man
You’re sneaking through the shadows, your foot’s in every door
You have everything you need, but still you want some more
You’re basking in the glory of the greedy things you do
You’ve already got your own, you want someone else’s too
I see you in the alley, slinking late at night
Grinning ear to ear ‘bout this evening’s delight
Black book in your pocket, your finger’s in the pie
If the back door’s stuck, you’ll get your chance to die
Your black book’s gonna do you the way you did to them
When your lucky streak runs out, you’re gonna meet the end
Black Book Man, your greed will do you in
You have what you need, but you want everything
Black Book Man, I don’t like long goodbyes
When your luck runs out, who do you think will cry
Black Book Man, this is your only hope
You want to see another day, better get on down the road
Black Book Man, your greed will do you in
You have what you need, but you want everything
Black Book Man, your greed will do you in
You have what you need, but you want everything
Black Book Man, you’ve been so lucky
How long do you think it will last
Ride your lucky streak out of town
Before you’re a thing of the past
Prisoner of the Highway
You’re a Prisoner of the Highway, and you cannot go home
You’ve got to keep your head in the wind, cuz you were born to roam
Tonight, you’ll be in Tulsa, tomorrow, who knows where
You’re a Prisoner of the Highway, and there is no time to spare
You’ve got to keep on rolling, moving on from town to town
When the morning sun comes up, it’s time to move on down
Your home is where your heart is, and your heart is on the road
Every day’s another mile, searching for that mother lode
Prisoner, prisoner, Prisoner of the Highway
Prisoner, prisoner, Prisoner of the Highway
Prisoner, prisoner, Prisoner of the Highway
You’re a Prisoner of the Highway, and the road’s your only share
Tonight a stop in Omaha, tomorrow, who knows where
Those white lines that you long to see, race through your boggled mind
I’m sure that you’ll die searching for the things you cannot find
You’re fleeing from uncertainty, longing for that master plan
To almost any passerby, you’re just a hunted man
I see where you’re coming from, friend I can see your rhyme
You’re another lonely wanderer, seeking what you cannot find
Prisoner, prisoner, Prisoner of the Highway
Prisoner, prisoner, Prisoner of the Highway
Prisoner, prisoner, Prisoner of the Highway
You’re a Prisoner of the Highway, and your head is in the wind
Your only friend’s the dusty road, you’ve got to keep moving
D. C. Summer Night
Hustling out on the streets selling Quicksilver Times
Scuffling and wondering if I’ll make it to the soup line
Every street a new challenge, many faces quite forlorn
Every smile a refuge to protect me from the storm
When the G-men cruise the streets wearing their polyester suits
All the hippies run for cover to protect their precious loot
And the heavies grab their bricks, preparing for a fight
To me, this is just another D. C. Summer Night
D. C., D. C. Summer Night
D. C., D. C. Summer Night
The sirens start to singing their oppressive battle tune
Only lovers are protected by the fullness of the moon
Shopkeepers run for cover to protect their lives and wares
Passersby, unknowing, begin to stop and stare
A voice comes on the bullhorn and says, “You all must now disperse”
Someone throws the first brick; teargas canisters begin to burst
The action’s getting heavy; there’s the sound of breaking glass
A policeman has been cornered, and they’re gonna kick his ass
An old lady with a cane has got teargas in her eyes
Tricky Dick’s on the TV telling everybody lies
He says that all is well tonight; it’s safe out on the streets
Will someone please tell that to the policeman on the beat?
I see teeny boppers decked out by daddy’s hard earned cash
They get caught up in the action; they only came to score a stash
A young girl is hurt and crying, “This fighting just isn’t right”
She’s just a small part of another D. C. Summer Night
D. C., D. C. Summer Night [repeat to fade]
They’re taking her away on a stretcher
Her face is all mangled and bloody
It’s just another D. C. Summer Night
Some will survive and some will die
It’s just another D. C. Summer Night
Playing with Fire Dying to Burn
Here is a young boy, lost and confused
Joining the club, by paying his dues
Life will go on, as the world turns
He’s Playing with Fire Dying to Burn
He’s Playing with Fire Dying to Burn
He made a deal, with me, the queen
Now I pull his strings, if you know what I mean
To the darkness he comes, into darkness he’ll fall
Not darkness for one, darkness for all
Squaggle-de-dum, squaggle-di-da
Squaggle-un-squaggle, squaggle-la-la
Squaggle-de-dum, squaggle-di-da
Squaggle-un-squaggle, squaggle-la-la
Life will go on, as the world turns
He’s Playing with Fire Dying to Burn
Life will go on, as the world turns
He’s Playing with Fire Dying to Burn
Squaggle-de-dum, squaggle-di-da
Squaggle-un-squaggle, squaggle-la-la
Life will go on, as the world turns
He’s Playing with Fire Dying to Burn
Playing with Fire Dying to Burn
Playing with Fire Dying to Burn
The Boys with the Special Eyes
It was just another day in another nameless town
Another place on a lonely road, Lord they all look the same
Then I saw that red shadow, and I realized
That I was being followed, by The Boys with the Special Eyes
I headed down a back street, they met me at the pass
I prayed to the Lord above, this day wouldn’t be my last
I asked them what they wanted, back came their reply
“We’ll ask all the questions, we’re The Boys with the Special Eyes”
Special eyes, special eyes
Don’t keep no secrets, don’t tell no lies
We’re The Boys with the Special Eyes
The Boys with the Special Eyes
We can see into your future, we’ve unveiled your past
There’s just no escaping us, cuz you can’t run that fast
We know all your fantasies, we see through all your lies
We’re your silent partner, we’re The Boys with the Special Eyes
I tried to make a run for it, I could only run in place
They all had an impish grin etched upon their face
They said, “We’ll be right behind you, until the day you die
We’ll be with you till forever, we’re The Boys with the Special Eyes”
Special eyes, special eyes
Don’t keep no secrets, don’t tell no lies
We’re The Boys with the Special Eyes
The Boys with the Special Eyes
Special eyes, special eyes
Don’t keep no secrets, don’t tell no lies
We’re The Boys with the Special Eyes
The Boys with the Special Eyes
Special eyes, special eyes
Don’t keep no secrets, don’t tell no lies
We’re The Boys with the Special Eyes
The Boys with the Special Eyes
Interlude
[This is a short skit that takes place in the bar where Kid meets the dancing girl]
Person 1: That boy’s got a problem
Person 2: Hey bartender, I’ll have another Jack
Bartender (speaking to Kid): Hey Stranger, whatcha drinking?
Hey Stranger? Hello? Hello? Oh, well
Dancing Girl
I was standing by the juke box
As she danced upon the stage
Her eyes were so dark and distant
She was nineteen years of age
Nineteen, or so she told me
Though she looked to be about fifteen
She said she was waiting for her lover
A love that only comes in dreams
Dancing Girl, you look so lonely
Let me hold you for a while
Let me show you what you’re missing
Dancing Girl, oh lonely child
She told me she just got in from Tulsa
And before that, it was Baton Rouge
She’d been on that lonely highway searching
Longing to meet the truth
She said she’s known a lot of lovers
But it was all just part of a scheme
Searching for that perfect lover
A love that only comes in dreams
Dancing Girl, you look so lonely
Let me hold you for a while
Let me show you what you’re missing
Dancing Girl, oh lonely child
Dancing Girl, oh lonely child
Dancing Girl, oh lonely child
Dancing Girl, lonely child
Let me hold you for a while
Dancing Girl, Dancing Girl
Dancing Girl, Dancing Girl
Lonely, lonely Dancing Girl
Dancing Girl, Dancing Girl
Let me love you Dancing Girl
Dancing Girl, Dancing Girl
Dancing Girl, Dancing Girl
[A Capella] Dancing Girl, oh lonely child
Child of Rock and Roll
She’s the Child of Rock and Roll, mother to the world
She’s a tired old lady, and a tender little girl
She foresaw a better place, where joy and love abound
But they just spit in Her face, and tried to put Her down
They took away Her body, they tried to take Her soul
They took Her to the edge, when they couldn’t take control
They couldn’t stand to see the mirror, they couldn’t stand their own reflection
They couldn’t stand to see the white light, they couldn’t stand Her resurrection
So they took Her to the water, Her body tightly bound
But they couldn’t kill the vision, where joy and love are found
She’s the Child of Rock and Roll, mother to the world
She’s a tired old lady, and a tender little girl
She held the baby to her breast, said, “Child, you’re not to blame
For you have come into a world of hate, and war and pain”
Then the child went to sleep, all life gone from Her eyes
Before the world could say farewell, the child began to rise!
“I have seen the white light, and I’ve seen the other side,”
The child said, “Please come with me, to a world with naught to hide”
The child raced through burning streets, with just one thing to say
“If you will only take my hand, I’ll show you a better way”
She’s the Child of Rock and Roll, Mother to the world
She’s a tired old lady, and a tender little girl
And so, rock and roll was born, the devil saw his chance
To stick a needle in her arm, and get into Her pants
This was his one big play for the Mother to the world
But when he got Her into bed, he found a frightened little girl
He said, “I’m gonna show you just what in hell is real”
She said, “Damn you jaded beast, there will be no deal
You can have my body, but you cannot have my soul
I’ll just move my spirit to the Child of rock and Roll”
She’s the Child of Rock and Roll, Mother to the world
She’s a tired old lady, and a tender little girl
[Repeat above two lines to fade]
Kidnapped
We were sleeping by the fire, on a cold December night
Suddenly, we were awakened, by a bang and flash of light
It was a gang of ruffians shooting weapons towards the sky
The leader there among them had a scar that caught my eye
It was a blackened “Q” carved out of his cheek
We laid there in silent awe as he began to speak
He said, “We have orders to take the girl away”
I stood to defend Her, as they moved in on their prey
A struggle then ensued, I was beaten to the ground
When my eyes came back to focus, She’s nowhere to be found
Kidnapped! Kidnapped! Now the Child is gone!
Kidnapped! Kidnapped! Now the Child is gone!
Sleepy sand gone from my eyes, I set off on their trail
The more I looked, the less I found, it’s all to no avail
Searching for a broken branch, or footprints in the snow
I unveiled a crimson “D” – my fear began to grow
They had left nary a clue to the path of their retreat
I began to wander aimlessly, I’m stunned, confused, and beat
Thinking of that single thread, that hint that they exist
I headed down another trail, longing for the girl I missed
As I thought about the Child, my mind began to buzz
I prayed that She wasn’t, but I knew that She was
Kidnapped! Kidnapped! Now the Child is gone!
Kidnapped! Kidnapped! Now the Child is gone!
Kidnapped! Kidnapped! Now the Child is gone!
Kidnapped! Kidnapped! Now the Child is gone!
Kidnapped! Kidnapped! Now the Child is gone!
Kidnapped! Kidnapped! Now the Child is gone!
All songs © ℗ Craig Herberg