The big man arrives
Disco dancers greet him
Plainclothes cops greet him

Small town, big man
Fresh lipstick glistening


Sophomore jive
From victims of typewriters
The band sounds like typewriters

The big man he's not listening

His eyes hold Edith

His left hand holds his right
What does that hand desire
That he grips it so tight?


Edith in the ring
The passed-over girls are conferring

The man with the diamond ring is purring
All claws for now withdrawn


One by one they bring
His renegade stories to her
His crimes and his glories to her

In challenge they look on

Women he has taken

Grow old too soon
He tilts their tired faces
Gently to the spoon


Edith in his bed
A plane in the rain is humming

The wires in the walls are humming
Some song, some mysterious song


Bars in her head
Beating frantic and snow blind
Romantic and snow blind

She says his crime belongs

Edith and the kingpin

Each with charm to sway
Are staring eye to eye
They dare not look away

You know they dare not look away