He smiles like the war is a private joke White uniform, clean hands, dirty ledger Captain Renault The only man in Casablanca Who can arrest you and pour your champagne In the same breath He looked at me the way men look at exit visas Like I was something that could be arranged I have known men who wanted me I have never known one Who wanted the room I was standing in More than the woman herself He calls Rick “Ricky” The way a man names a horse he might have to shoot He laughs at the laws he writes Then enforces them just enough To keep his table near the door Chorus: Louis never picks a side He picks the weather He waits to see which way the planes are facing Before he decides if he’s a patriot Or just a man who likes to stay alive I watched him watch the young wife The same night Rick broke his own rule Louis already knew the price He just wanted to see if anyone else Would pay it first He is not cruel That would require conviction He is something more useful A mirror with a rank He reflects whatever power Walks into the café that night Bridge: In Paris I thought men were made of promises In Casablanca I learned Some men are made of timing Louis is made of timing And a smile that arrives Two seconds before the truth Final chorus: He will toast the winner Whoever the winner turns out to be He will call it friendship When the friendship becomes convenient I do not hate him Hate is for men who still believe in sides I only know this: When the last plane leaves And the fog takes the runway Louis will still be standing Cigarette lit Already writing the report In two different versions Sam, don’t play him a song He doesn’t keep music He keeps options.
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