Camera clicks the rusted stair
Salt air rides the midnight air
Boots hit concrete smell of rain
Fisherman ignores the pain
Lens catches silver in his hand
Walking bass understands the plan
Light spreads slow through cigarette haze
Night unwinds in crooked ways
He casts his light on brass and smoke
A lantern where the upright spoke
The sax man leans into the glow
Hook line sink where the midnight flows
Net folds neat beside his chair
Scales shine like sequins there
Coat hangs heavy river damp
Cigarette a trembling lamp
Shutter snaps the quiet trade
Fish for jazz the deal is made
Bass line walks the wooden floor
Fisherman needs nothing more
He casts his light on brass and smoke
A lantern where the upright spoke
The sax man leans into the glow
Hook line sink where the midnight flows
Brush snare sweeps the velvet dark
Muted sax leaves its mark
Piano felt dampens the strike
Fisherman nods what he likes
He casts his light on brass and smoke
A lantern where the upright spoke
The sax man leans into the glow
Hook line sink where the midnight flows
Bus ticket burning in my pocket
Window frames the city rocket
But down here time don't climb the walls
Just lantern light and upright calls
He casts his light on brass and smoke
A lantern where the upright spoke
The sax man leans into the glow
Hook line sink where the midnight flows
First train rattles overhead
Dreams of river dreams of bed
Lantern dims but glow stays put
Hook line sink the catch is shut
He casts his light on brass and smoke
A lantern where the upright spoke
The sax man leans into the glow
Hook line sink where the midnight flows
Hook line sink where the midnight flows
Hook line sink the catch is home
Camera clicks the door shut tight
Lantern burns through Chicago night