James Cagney Lyrics - Nik Kershaw

talk tougher than james cagney 

act smarter than charlie chan 

love longer than valentino 

or you never will be a man 

i saw him down at the drive-in saturday 

a forty five to blow away anyone who happens to disagree 

with such panache and style, he wins the game 

when all the while, i'm sitting here thinking that it could be me 

suddenly, in walks a criminologist 

with too much knowledge to resist and plenty of answers 

for the good at heart 

no fear, no pain, no sweat, the teardrop on the serviette, 

oh i could be a hero if i was that smart 

silver cloud, silver tongue on a liver screen 

with the sweetest of the sweet and meanest of the mean 

talk tougher than james cagney 

act smarter than charlie chan 

love longer than valentino 

or you never will be a man 

back to the movies where 

the lady, beset by his charms, falls faintly in the lovers arms 

the fate of every watching woman in his hands 

after the earth moves, musn't dwell, our hero bids a fond farewell 

upon his trusty camel 'cross the desert sands 

with the bad guys in a fix and the ladies in a spin 

where does fantasy end and reality begin? 

talk tougher than james cagney 

act smarter than charlie chan 

love longer than valentino 

or you never will be a man 

when you take up the sword and you fight the good fight 

with your ego in the red and your dreams in black and white. 

talk tougher than james cagney 

act smarter than charlie chan 

love longer than valentino 

or you never will be a man