Bbmaj7 Gm7 Cm7 Cm7 F7sus
In the streets around here there was nobody tougher than me,
F7 Cm7 F7sus F7
I was quick with me fists and fast with me footwork
Bbmaj7 Bb7/F Bb6 Bbaug
as you can plainly see,
Fm7 Bb7
But while fighting was useful for getting your way,
Ebmaj7 Ebm6
Among the toughs of the town where you could hold sway,
Gm Bb/F Em7b5 C9
There had to be something that was better than this,
F7 Eb/G Abdim7 F7/A
I was fifteen years old and I'd never been kissed.
[Verse 2]
Bbmaj7 Gm7
Well of course she'd ignore me, her friends would all sneer at me,
Cm7 F7sus F7
bloody nose dripping and me cauliflow’r ear,
Cm7 F7sus F7
For it's hard to convince in a romantic pose,
Bbmaj7 Bb7/F Bb6 Bb+/F
With a lovely black eye and a broken nose,
Fm7 Bb7
Where a girl is attracted to skills more refined,
Ebmaj7 Ebm6
Than the pugilist's art, and so I inclined,
Gm Bb/F Edim7 C9
To take meself serious as a modern romancer,
F7 Eb/G Abdim7 F7/A
And I secretly learnt all the moves of a dancer.
[Chorus 1]
Bbmaj7 Gm7
You swing to the left, you swing to the right,
Cm7 F7sus F7
Keep your eyes on your partner, more or less like a fight,
Cm7 F7sus F7
You just follow the rhythm, and you keep to the beat,
Bbmaj7 Bb7/F Bb6 Bbaug
The important thing's never to look at your feet,
Fm7 Bb7/F Bb7
Then a miracle happens, your mind's in a trance,
Ebmaj7 Ebm6
Though the strategy's subtle, retreat and advance,
Bbmaj7 Gm7 Cm7 F7
It’s all about attitude, all in your stance,
Dm7 Gm7 Cm7 F7
Attention to detail, leaving nothing to chance,
Dm7 Gm7 Cm7 F7 Bbmaj7 Bb7/F Bb6 Bb/F
Which explains how the pugilist finally learned how to dance.
[Verse 3]
Bbmaj7 Gm7
Well, I'd waltz with a broomstick and if I was caught,
Cm7 F7sus F7
I'd pretend I was sweeping or practicing sport,
Cm7 F7sus F7
But I really had eyes for your mother ye see,
Bbmaj7 Bb7/F Bb6 Bb+/F
Wanting her to acknowledge this new version of me,
Fm7 Bb7
But now everyone's watching, expecting I'll fail,
Ebmaj7 Ebm6
But there's fire in me belly, there's wind in me sails,
Gm Bb/F Edim7 C9
I knew it was risky and I was taking a chance,
F7 Eb/G Abdim7 F7/A
I couldn't retreat now, I had to advance.
[Chorus 2]
Bbmaj7 Gm7
So I swing to the left, I swing to the right,
Cm7 F7sus F7
Keep me eyes on me partner, like I would in a fight,
Cm7 F7sus F7
I just keep to the rhythm, and follow the beat,
Bbmaj7 Bb7/F Bb6 Bbaug
The important thing's never to look at your feet,
Fm7 Bb7/F Bb7
But a miracle’s happened, and your mind's in a trance,
Ebmaj7 Ebm6
They’re all laughing and cheering and looking askance.
Bbmaj7 Gm7 Cm7 Fsus F7 Bmaj7 B7/F# B6 Em/F#
on the night that the pugilist finally learned how to dance.
[Verse 4]
B9 G#m7
It's a three-minute round and you’re back in your corner,
C#m7 F#sus F#7
You're licking your wounds just like little Jack Horner,
C#m7 F#sus F#7
Don't let your guard down try a jab with your right,
Bmaj7 B7/F# B6 F#sus
Or you're losing on points by the end of the night,
F#m7 B7/F#
Then a miracle happens, and everyone's screaming,
Emaj7 Em6
You're pinching yourself just in case you're still dreaming,
G#m Gaug Fm7b5 Em
You've taken th’ initiative, you've taken your chance,
B/D# G#m7 C#m7 F#7 Fm7b5 Em
It's the night when this pugilist finally learned how to dance.
[Outro]
D#m7 G#m7 C#m7 F#7
In a bout where the strategist’s bridges were burned,
D#m7 G#m7 C#m7 F#7
Where it seemed that his fortune had suddenly turned,
D#m7 G#m7 C#m7 F#7
'Twas the night that this scrapper was suddenly dapper,
Fm7b5 Em B/D# Ddim7
This poor fellow's heart was still going like the clappers,
C#m7 F#sus F#7 Bmaj7 B7/F# B6 Em/F# Bmaj9
The night that the pugilist finally learned how to dance.
