Leo's Place
Eric Burdon Lyrics


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You can always get a decent cuppa coffee
Just a block from Piccadilly
Watchin' the bums, punks and straights
The world is on parade at Leo's place

American girls looking for a ride
Tryin' to get across to the other side
He'd see them all through the serving hatch
They young the old, the yellow and black

I don't recall your name, but I recall your face
Everyone looks the same, hanging around at Leo's place

I don't care where I travel to
One big circle leads me back to you
Those coffeehouse dreams that set me on the road
Always brings me back to Leo's

Used to impress my best girls
Take'em down to Leo's place
Because of them not me, I know
That's how he remembers my face
So sad that things have changed
Junkies fill the place
But it don't change the taste
The coffee's still the best at Leo's place

This world is not what it used to be
One time a man could hitchhike from A to Z
A country explodes, another boarder close
Sometimes I wish l'd never left Leo's

So if you wanna see me again
I tell you where, you say when
I got this number, it may change
All you gotta remember is Leo's place

I don't recall your name, but I recall your face
Everyone looks the same, hanging around at Leo's place

l'm coming home, I've been to America,
Africa, Asia and Japan
I am what you call a travellin' man
l've seen the ladies in Africa, Tokyo, Soho
South of the border, Rio de Janeiro




But now the time has come,
To go back where I started from ...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Eric Burdon's song "Leo's Place" paint the picture of a coffee house in Piccadilly where people from all walks of life gather for a cup of coffee and to people watch. The singer describes how Leo's place attracts American girls who are looking to cross to the other side, meaning they are looking for a way to make a new life for themselves. The singer also reminisces about taking his best girls to Leo's place to impress them. He says that he may have forgotten their names, but he remembers them by their faces. The song describes how Leo's place has changed over time, and how junkies have now filled the place, but the coffee is still the best.


The song also talks about the changing world and how it's not what it used to be. The singer longs for the days when he could hitchhike from A to Z without any borders or restrictions. He says that he wishes he had never left Leo's, which represents a simpler time in his life. The singer declares that he has traveled to many places, but he is ready to go back to where he started from.


Overall, "Leo's Place" is a nostalgic song that touches on themes of change, homecoming, and the importance of memories. It reminds us that even though things may change, there are certain things that stay the same, like the taste of a good cup of coffee.


Line by Line Meaning

You can always get a decent cuppa coffee
Leo's place is known for its decent coffee


Just a block from Piccadilly
The cafe is located in close proximity to Piccadilly


Watchin' the bums, punks and straights
People from different walks of life can be seen at Leo's place


The world is on parade at Leo's place
The cafe is like a stage where the world is on parade


American girls looking for a ride
American girls can be seen around the area looking for a ride


Tryin' to get across to the other side
They're trying to cross over to the other side of the road


He'd see them all through the serving hatch
The singer can see them all through the serving hatch at Leo's place


They young the old, the yellow and black
People of different races and ages can be seen at Leo's place


I don't recall your name, but I recall your face
The artist may not remember names, but remembers faces of people at Leo's place


Everyone looks the same, hanging around at Leo's place
People seem to blend in together at Leo's place


I don't care where I travel to
The singer is not too concerned about where he travels to


One big circle leads me back to you
Regardless of where he goes, he always ends up back at Leo's place


Those coffeehouse dreams that set me on the road
The singer was inspired by coffeehouse dreams that set him on the path of traveling


Always brings me back to Leo's
His travels always bring him back to Leo's place


Used to impress my best girls
The singer used to take his best girls to Leo's place to impress them


Take'em down to Leo's place
He would take them to the cafe


Because of them not me, I know
He knows Leo's place because of the girls he took there


That's how he remembers my face
The cafe owner remembers his face because of the girls that he brought in


So sad that things have changed
The singer is saddened by how things have changed at Leo's place


Junkies fill the place
The cafe is now frequented by junkies


But it don't change the taste
Despite the changes, the coffee still tastes the same at Leo's place


The coffee's still the best at Leo's place
The coffee at Leo's place is still considered the best despite the changes


This world is not what it used to be
The world has changed from what it used to be


One time a man could hitchhike from A to Z
In the past, it was easier to travel by hitchhiking


A country explodes, another boarder close
Countries can explode and borders can be closed


Sometimes I wish l'd never left Leo's
The singer sometimes wishes he never left Leo's place


So if you wanna see me again
If someone wants to see him again


I tell you where, you say when
He'll tell them where to meet and they can decide when


I got this number, it may change
He has a phone number that may change


All you gotta remember is Leo's place
All they need to remember is Leo's place


l'm coming home, I've been to America,
The singer is coming home after traveling to America,


Africa, Asia and Japan
Africa, Asia, and Japan


I am what you call a travellin' man
He considers himself a traveling man


l've seen the ladies in Africa, Tokyo, Soho
He's seen ladies in various places including Africa, Tokyo, and Soho


South of the border, Rio de Janeiro
He's also been to Rio de Janeiro, south of the border


But now the time has come,
But now it's time


To go back where I started from ...
To go back to where he started, Leo's place




Contributed by Caleb W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

whotwo

LOVE this tune , when I first got the CD I just had to play this song over and over --- so simple and catchy, thanks Julian. I want to live at LEO'S PLACE!

Nina Paddy

thank you so much for this, i can't get enough of it. it's been on repeat since i found it!

piotr fulara

One of only few song that I love from first hearing. Thank you Eric.

Kenny Heaton

ERIC Is the best! Was in 1967,77,87,97,07 and to the day I die! when I think of all the good time that i have wasted having good times!!

James Grant

My Dad wrote this song 'Steve Grant' . My son is called Leo born in 2018 ☺️

Jennifer Williams

Eric wrote this not steve grant

Jennifer Williams

@jamesgrant7333

hzsuzsi

To go back where I started from . . .

leolovezsixties

Y'all welcome to my place!