talk tougher than james cagney
act smarter than charlie chan
love longer than valentino
or you never will be a man

i saw him down at the drive-in saturday
a forty five to blow away anyone who happens to disagree
with such panache and style, he wins the game
when all the while, i'm sitting here thinking that it could be me

suddenly, in walks a criminologist
with too much knowledge to resist and plenty of answers
for the good at heart
no fear, no pain, no sweat, the teardrop on the serviette,
oh i could be a hero if i was that smart

silver cloud, silver tongue on a liver screen
with the sweetest of the sweet and meanest of the mean

talk tougher than james cagney
act smarter than charlie chan
love longer than valentino
or you never will be a man

back to the movies where
the lady, beset by his charms, falls faintly in the lovers arms
the fate of every watching woman in his hands
after the earth moves, musn't dwell, our hero bids a fond farewell
upon his trusty camel 'cross the desert sands

with the bad guys in a fix and the ladies in a spin
where does fantasy end and reality begin?

talk tougher than james cagney
act smarter than charlie chan
love longer than valentino
or you never will be a man

when you take up the sword and you fight the good fight
with your ego in the red and your dreams in black and white.

talk tougher than james cagney
act smarter than charlie chan
love longer than valentino
or you never will be a m