African Friend - Jimmy Buffett

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 est le casino?»

He spoke to the cabbie and smiled

The driver replied «Vieux ou noveaux?»

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 rollin' the bones several hours

Conversing as most gamblers do

We were calling on all of our powers

Hoping to see the night through.

But not approving at all of our winning

The 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

A soldier told me I' 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 evening

It was truly 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.