Secret Agent Man
Mel Tormé Lyrics

There's a man who leads a life of danger
This is a song about a spy, whose job is full of peril.

To everyone he meets he stays a stranger
The spy must remain anonymous, as revealing his identity would put both him and his contacts in danger.

With every move he makes another chance he takes
Every action the spy takes, no matter how small, poses a risk to his safety.

Odds are he won't live to see tomorrow
Being a spy is so dangerous that the chances of dying are high.

Secret agent man, secret agent man
The spy is referred to as 'secret agent man', indicating both his profession and the secrecy surrounding it.

They've given you a number and taken away your name
In order to maintain anonymity, the spy is only known by his code name, and his true identity remains hidden.

Beware of pretty faces that you find
The spy must be cautious of those who appear innocuous to him, as they may have their own motives.

A pretty face can hide an evil mind
Just because someone appears attractive does not mean they are trustworthy or sincere.

Ah, be careful what you say
The spy must be cautious of the information he shares and who he shares it with in order to avoid suspicion.

Or you'll give yourself away
If the spy reveals too much about himself or his mission, he will compromise his identity.

Swingin' on the Riviera one day
The spy's job requires him to travel to different locations, even exotic ones like the Riviera.

And then layin' in the Bombay alley next day
However, the danger he faces is ever-present, as shown by the example of him being in a precarious situation in Bombay.

Oh no, you let the wrong word slip
Even the smallest mistake, such as misspeaking, can lead to dire consequences for the spy.

While kissing persuasive lips
The spy may risk his anonymity in order to gain information or carry out his mission.

The odds are you won't live to see tomorrow
The danger the spy is in is so high that his chances of survival are low.

Secret agent man, secret agent man
Reiterating the main focus of the song, that the artist is a spy.

They've given you a number and taken away your name
Highlighting again how the spy's identity has been replaced by a code name.