Zanzibar

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Zanzibar is a song from Joel’s ‘'52nd Street’‘ album, and most characterizes the jazz direction Joel wanted to take after releasing the pop smash ’‘The Stranger’‘ a year… Read More

Oct. 13, 19781 viewer50.9K views

Zanzibar Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Ali dances and the audience applauds
Though he's bathed in sweat, he hasn't lost his style
Ali, don't you go downtown
You gave away another round for free, woah

[Pre-Chorus 1]
Me, I'm just another face at Zanzibar
But the waitress always serves a secret smile, woah
She's waiting out in Shantytown
She's gonna pull the curtains down for me
For me

[Chorus]
I've got the old man's car
I've got a jazz guitar
I've got a tab at Zanzibar
Tonight, that's where I'll be
I'll be

[Verse 2]
Rose, he knows he's such a credit to the game
But the Yankees grab the headlines every time
Melodrama's so much fun
In black and white for everyone to see, woah

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[Pre-Chorus 2]
Me, I'm trying just to get to second base
And I'd steal it if she only gave the sign, woah
She's gonna give the go ahead
The inning isn't over yet for me
For me

[Chorus]
I've got the old man's car
I've got a jazz guitar
I've got a tab at Zanzibar
Tonight, that's where I'll be, I'll be

[Instrumental]

[Pre-Chorus 1]
Tell the waitress I'll come back to Zanzibar
I'll be hiding in the darkness with my beer, woah
She's waiting out in Shantytown
She's gonna pull the curtains down for me
For me

[Chorus]
I've got the old man's car
I've got a jazz guitar
I've got a tab at Zanzibar
Tonight, that's where I'll be, I'll be

[Instrumental Outro]

About

Zanzibar is a song from Joel’s ‘'52nd Street’‘ album, and most characterizes the jazz direction Joel wanted to take after releasing the pop smash ’‘The Stranger’‘ a year earlier.

The song lyrically refers to a fictional sports bar where a guy is attempting to score with a waitress.

The song includes many jazz elements, including a fast walking bass line in the bridge and a trumpet solo by Freddie Hubbard.

On his SiriusXM channel, Joel explained in 2016 that he originally had the idea to write a jazzy song with the title “Zanzibar,” but was having trouble coming up with a good story for the lyrics. Producer Phil Ramone then suggested that Zanzibar “sounds like the name of a bar,” which Joel thought was perfect.