CLAUDIA    

Ralph McTell

Friday evening finds me in a favourite bar of mine
Drinking with some friends with whom I like to spend my time
When in comes John and he's bleeding from his mouth and from his chin
I said "My friend John come here and tell me what kind of trouble you've been in."
And he said,  "You won't believe it.  I can't believe it myself.
Will you let me sit down, can you get me a drink and a handkerchief for my mouth?"

"You see, Friday evening finds me coming down to meet you here
I got nothing more on my mind than a long cool glass of beer
When these four guys that jumped me and they did this to my face
And one of them shouted something about my colour and my race.
Oh no I don't wanna believe it but there's this ringing that's in my ears.
And if it wasn't for the pain to remind me again I swear I'd have to break down in tears."

And Claudia's from Harlem, she warned it wouldn't do no good
Sitting with your safe friends when you talk of brotherhood
You back-bar revolutionaries only talk about what to do
You end up too drunk on your theories to ever see them through.
Oh no I cannot believe it has it really got this late?
I can't put the clock back a few cool beers and say it's all been a big mistake.

Claudia's from Harlem she's an artist and she works
She's rejected all your sympathy now how can you ask for hers?
Too late for you to say now you know just how she feels
While you fumble with your modelling clay, Claudia builds in steel.

And Friday evening finds me stacked up drunk against the wall
Will you hold on John for I'm feeling bad and if you slip we both fall.
For John is as white as I am and we both love everyone
I thought everybody must have known that by now but they have all gone home.

Oh no I cannot believe it has it really got this late?
I can't put the clock back a few cool beers and say it's all been a big mistake.
Oh no I don't wanna believe it but until the ringing in their ears.
They're going to swear to God they never thought those things could happen here.