[Verse 1: Swing-rap male MC, hard swing drums, slapped upright bass, sly swing-rap flow] Invite in my mailbox, no stamp and no name Just "come as you were," and a time and a lane Bakery on Mercer that's been shut since way back when Knock three times on the flour door and they'll let you in So I rented me a pinstripe and a hat with a brim Stick-on mustache, two-tone shoes, I was swell, I was slim Doorman eyed me up and down and said "the password, daddy-o" I said "trick or treat," he laughed so hard he let me in the show [Pre-Hook: Swing-rap male MC, muted trumpet stabs building] Gin in a teacup, smoke in the beams Everybody dressed like a newsreel dream [Hook: Swing-rap male MC, full swing band and hard drums, big sly swing-rap hook] Come as you were, that's what the invite read Everybody dressed too perfect from the shoes up to the head The band don't take a break and the gin don't run dry Come as you were, and nobody asks why [Verse 2: Swing-rap male MC, clarinet runs, faster swing-rap bars] Flapper in the beads took my hand and called me sheik Never seen a girl that pale dance that fast and never speak Bee's knees, cat's pajamas, everybody talkin' slang Like a picture from my granddad's box, the way the whole room sang Every clock along the wall stuck at a quarter after nine And the paper on the bar said the market's doin' fine Asked the trumpet where he's playin' next, he said "right here, son We been playin' every Halloween since this here place begun" [Pre-Hook: Swing-rap male MC, muted trumpet stabs building] Gin in a teacup, smoke in the beams Everybody dressed like a newsreel dream [Hook: Swing-rap male MC, full swing band and hard drums, big sly swing-rap hook] Come as you were, that's what the invite read Everybody dressed too perfect from the shoes up to the head The band don't take a break and the gin don't run dry Come as you were, and nobody asks why [Breakdown: Swing-rap male MC, gramophone flip, two crackly gramophone bars, then the modern drums slam back] Crackle, crackle, now the room is gettin' old Crackle, crackle, now the room is gettin' cold [Verse 3: Swing-rap male MC, hard swing drums, colder swing-rap delivery] Midnight, I went to the bar to settle up and go Bartender looked me up and down and gave a little "oh" He reached across and tugged my lip, the mustache peeled away Said "Kid, you're the only one in costume here today" Every pinstripe, every bead, was real and never rented, none And the dust sat on their shoulders like they'd never seen the sun Doorman standin' at the flour door, his arms folded tight Said "You came as you are, daddy-o, but you leave as you were tonight" [Final Hook: Swing-rap male MC, full swing band and hard drums, biggest sly swing-rap hook] Come as you were, that's what the invite read Everybody dressed too perfect from the shoes up to the head The band don't take a break and the gin don't run dry Come as you were, and nobody asks why [End]
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