Pedro Navaja (part. Rubén Blades)

Pedro Navaja (feat. Rubén Blades)

Through the corner of the old neighborhood I saw him pass
With the swagger that tough guys have when they walk
Hands always in the pockets of his overcoat
So they don't know in which one he carries the knife

He wears a wide-brimmed hat tilted to one side
And sneakers in case he needs to run away
Dark glasses so they don't know what he's looking at
And a gold tooth that shines when he smiles

About three blocks from that corner a woman
Is walking along the sidewalk for the fifth time
And she enters a doorway and takes a drink to forget
That the day is slow and there are no clients to work

A car passes very slowly down the avenue
It has no markings, but everyone knows it's the police, uh
Pedro Navaja hands always inside his overcoat
Looks and smiles and the gold tooth shines again

As he walks he scans from corner to corner
Not a soul is seen, the whole avenue is deserted
When suddenly that woman comes out of the doorway
And Pedro Navaja clenches a fist inside his overcoat

He looks one way, looks the other, and sees no one
And quietly but without noise crosses the street
And meanwhile on the other side of the street that woman
Grumbling because she didn't make any money to eat

As she walks she takes a revolver out of her old coat, that woman
Was going to put it in her purse so it wouldn't be in the way
A .38 special Smith & Wesson
That she carries to protect herself from all harm

And Pedro Navaja with knife in hand went towards her
The gold tooth was shining down the whole avenue, it was easy for him!
While he laughed the knife mercilessly stabbed her
When suddenly a shot rang out like a cannon
And Pedro Navaja fell on the sidewalk while he saw, that woman
With the revolver in hand and wounded by death said to him
What was I thinking: Today is not my day, I'm jinxed
But Pedro Navaja you're worse off, you're done for

And believe me people, even though there was noise no one came out
There were no onlookers, no questions, no one cried
Only a drunk stumbled upon the two bodies
He took the revolver, the knife, the money, and left
And stumbling he went off singing out of tune
The chorus that I brought here and gives the message of my song

Life gives you surprises, surprises life gives you, oh God
Pedro Navaja, corner thug
He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword

Life gives you surprises, surprises life gives you, oh God
Brave fisherman, with the hook you threw
Instead of a sardine, you caught a shark

Life gives you surprises, surprises life gives you, oh God
The city of New York has five million stories

Life gives you surprises, surprises life gives you, oh God
As my grandmother used to say, he who laughs last, laughs best

Life gives you surprises, surprises life gives you
When destiny calls, not even the bravest can change it
If you were born to be a hammer, nails will fall from the sky
Life gives you surprises, surprises life gives you, oh God
Tough neighborhood, watch out on the sidewalk
Watch out, buddy, because if you don't run, you'll fly

Life gives you surprises, surprises life gives you, oh God
Like in a Kafka novel, the drunk turned down the alleyway