La chanson de Bilbao

The ball at Bill's, in Bilbao, Bilbao, Bilbao
It was the best ball on the whole continent
You had noise and dreams in abundance
Noise and dreams, noise and dreams
And all that everyone gives to their kids
When we walked into that place
I don't really know if you'd have liked that kind of thing
We laughed and drank like we were lost
On the dance floor, the grass grew thick
Through the roof, the green Moon passed
And then the music, really
You got your money's worth
Joe, play that music from back then

Old Moon of Bilbao, how beautiful love was
Old Moon of Bilbao, smoke your cigar up there
Old Moon of Bilbao, I'll never let you down
Old Moon of Bilbao, don’t let go of the poles
I don't really know if you'd have liked that kind of thing
But it was the coolest, it was the coolest
It was the coolest in the whole world

At Bill's ball, in Bilbao, Bilbao, Bilbao
One fine day in late May in nineteen-oh-eight
Four guys showed up loaded with cash
Loaded with cash, loaded with cash
I couldn't tell you everything they did
But if you had arrived that day
I don't really know if you'd have liked that kind of thing
We laughed and drank like we were lost
On the dance floor, the grass grew thick
Through the roof, the green Moon passed
The four guys from Frisco
Were firing their guns
One after another
And over it all, the music kept going

Old Moon of Bilbao, how beautiful love was
Old Moon of Bilbao, smoke your cigar up there
Old Moon of Bilbao, I'll never let you down
Old Moon of Bilbao, don’t let go of the poles
I don't really know if you'd have liked that kind of thing
But it was the coolest, it was the coolest
It was the coolest in the whole world

The ball at Bill's, in Bilbao, Bilbao
Today everything's repainted, everything's decent
Succulents and ordinary ice cream, ordinary
Like in all the other places
But if you happen to pass by that day
You might like it, who knows
It makes me sad. We can't laugh anymore
There's no more grass on the dance floor
The green Moon has packed her bags
And then the music, really, we’re ashamed for our money
Joe, play that music from back then