Fresh lipstick glistening
Edith and the kingpin
His renegade stories to her

Beating frantic and snow blind
You know they dare not look away
Plainclothes cops greet him
Small town, big man
Each with charm to sway
The man with the diamond ring is purring
Grow old too soon
The big man he's not listening
A plane in the rain is humming
The band sounds like typewriters

Romantic and snow blind

She says his crime belongs
He tilts their tired faces

Some song, some mysterious song

What does that hand desire
The wires in the walls are humming
Sophomore jive
His crimes and his glories to her
The passed-over girls are conferring

His eyes hold Edith
All claws for now withdrawn
His left hand holds his right
In challenge they look on
From victims of typewriters

Women he has taken
Are staring eye to eye
Gently to the spoon
Edith in the ring
Edith in his bed
Bars in her head
That he grips it so tight?
They dare not look away
One by one they bring