The Royal Scam lyrics

And they wandered in from the city

of St. John without a dime

wearing coats that shined both red and green

colors from their sunny island.

From their boats of iron, they looked upon

the promised land where surely life was sweet.

On the rising tide, to New York City,

did they ride into the street.

See the glory of the royal scam.

They are hounded down to the bottom

of a bad town amid the ruins,

where they learn to fear an angry race

of fallen kings, their dark companions.

While the memory of their southern sky

was clouded by a savage winter,

every patron saint, hung on the wall,

shared the room with twenty sinners.

See the glory of the royal scam.

By the blackened wall he does it all.

He thinks he's died and gone to heaven.

Now the tale is told by the old man.

Back home, he reads the letter

how they are paid in gold just to babble

in the back room all night and waste their time.

And they wandered in from the city

of St. John without a dime.

See the glory of the royal scam.

• Artist:Steely Dan
• Album:The Royal Scam