African Friend

African Friend By: Jimmy Buffett 1978 Disembarking at Duvalier Airport Seeking transportation to town As the purple ink dried on his passport He could still feel the eyes look around "Messieur ou y est casino?" [ Do you know where the casino is Sir? ] Spoke to the cabbie and smiled Driver replied "Vieux ou noveaux." [ Old or new? ] As he motioned the dark man inside Business in Aruba concluded He now had a little money to spend That's how I came to meet my African friend We were rolling the bones several hours Conversing as most gamblers do We were calling on all of our powers Hopin' to see the night through But not approving at all of our winnings Pit boss he tugged at his sleeve Through the whole thing my new friend was grinning When he motioned it's time we should leave With our night at the tables behind us We were ready just to do it again That's when I came to know my African friend But I woke up on the steps of a whorehouse Soldier told me I'd better leave As I stumbled to find me a taxi I saw a note pinned to my sleeve "It was a pleasure and a hell of an evenin' Truly was our night to win. But the authorities insist on my leaving Take care my American friend." With my weekend at Haiti concluded I now had a little money to spend That's when I came to meet my African friend That's how I came to know another good friend This album is dedicated to Juan Cadiz, Save The Whales, Save The Earth, Support Greenpeace.