Banana Republics Songtext

von Steve Goodman

Down to the banana republics,
Down to the tropical sun
Come the expatriated Americans,
Expecting to have some fun

Some of them come for the sailing,
Drawn by the lure of the sea
To cure the spirit that's ailing,
From living in the land of the free

Some of them are running from lovers
Leaving no forward address
Some of them are running marijuana
Some are running from the IRS

And late at night you will see them
In the cheap hotels and bars
Hustling the senoritas
As they dance beneath the stars
Spending the renegade pesos
On a bottle of rum and a lime
Singing "Give me some words I can dance to
And a melody that rhymes"

Once you learn the native customs
And a word of Spanish or two
Then you know you can't trust them
Because they know they can't trust you

Down in banana republics
It is not always as warm as it seems
When none of the natives are buying
Any second-hand American dreams

Expatriated Americans are feeling so all alone
Telling themselves the same lies
That they told themselves at home

And late at night you will see them
In the cheap hotels and bars
Hustling the senoritas
As they dance beneath the stars
Spending the renegade pesos
On a bottle of rum and a lime
Singing "Give me some words I can dance to
And a melody that rhymes"

Down to the banana republics,
Down to the tropical sun
Come the expatriated Americans,
Expecting to have some fun