Cuban Crisis
Phil Manzanera Lyrics

She said, I've got to get away
The woman expresses her desire to leave her current situation.

Be smart stay cool, hey
She advises her partner to stay calm and collected in response to her news.

Don't be that way
She encourages him to not react negatively to her decision.

I got to get away
She reiterates her need to leave.

You know I love you
She reassures her partner that her decision to leave has nothing to do with her love for him.

But I really cannot stay
She explains that she has other reasons for needing to leave.

I've booked a ticket on a plane
She has already made arrangements to leave.

And when she said it
Referring to her statement about leaving and booking a ticket.

She was on the phone
She is communicating this news to her partner over the phone.

Call long distance
They are separated by distance and need to make an international call to communicate.

Then she smiled and said
She tries to remain positive in her conversation despite the difficult news she's delivering.

I'm coming home
She reassures her partner that she will return home after her trip no matter what.

She packed her bag
She is getting ready to leave.

And blew a kiss, it missed
She tries to send a gesture of love but it doesn't quite reach its intended recipient due to the distance and the phone communication.

And gave the dog a pat
She is leaving behind pets and is saying goodbye to them as well.

And then she said
Continuing her conversation about leaving.

She had to run...
She has to leave quickly and has to end the conversation abruptly.

If you knew where to look
Referring to the woman's qualities or characteristics.

She could bear contemplation
She is worth considering and reflecting on.

Her assets ain't suffered
Her physical attributes have not declined.

Because of inflation
This is referencing economic inflation as a metaphor for things changing over time.

Sure, sex meant a lot
The physical aspects of their relationship were important to both partners.

I gave her my best shot
He tried his hardest to make their relationship work.

But if I wasn't so hot
If he wasn't as attractive or successful, their relationship may not have existed in the first place.

There must have been some books that I could read
He is suggesting that he could have improved himself in some way to make their relationship work.

How could I hope to have kept her
He questions his ability to maintain a relationship with her.

Just a cheap lousy dime-a-day tune-smith
He is a songwriter or musician who doesn't have much financial success.

Now my words don't impress her
His partner is not impressed by his music or lyrics anymore.

I keep on ending lines like this with spend-thrift
He habitually uses the word 'spend-thrift' which may be annoying to his partner.

Disposable tunes
His music is not meaningful or significant to his partner.

That's when 'moon' rhymes with 'June'
He is referencing a common rhyming pattern in song lyrics which may not be original or impressive enough for his partner.

Seems to ruffle her conscience
He is irritating or agitating her with his music.

And give her the bee
He is causing her discomfort or annoyance.

How else could I pay
He is suggesting that his lack of financial success is the reason why their relationship has fallen apart.

For those long months away
He may have been absent for a long time which may have also contributed to the end of their relationship.

With those so special people
Referring to the people he met or worked with while he was away.

Who live in ... (?)
Referring to an unclear location where he met these special people.

She said, will you promise to be strong
Restarting the conversation about leaving her partner for Cuba and asking him to be strong.

I grabbed her hand and asked her
He is trying to physically stop her from leaving and is asking for clarification on why she's leaving.

"Honey, there must be something wrong"
He is concerned that there is a more significant reason for her leaving than what she's divulging.

And she replied, "Well how can I live
She answers his question by clarifying that she cannot continue living with the current situation or within the scope of his music or lyrics.

In such a light-weight song?"
She finds his work to be trivial or unimportant and cannot continue living in the environment that his work creates.

Now I think she's in Cuba
He believes that she has left for Cuba.

With a house on a bay
She has established a new life in Cuba with a house by the water.

With a great view
The house has a scenic view which she enjoys.

But they'll have to remove her
Her strong will or character may cause conflict with the Cuban government.

Cuz she keeps on telling Fidel what to do
She is opinionated and may attempt to influence Fidel Castro's actions with her advice or guidance.

I can just hear him say
Imagining what Castro's reaction may be to her influence.

As she gets her own way
She may be successful in accomplishing her goals or influencing government decisions.

And the tourists flock in
Cuba may experience a tourism influx which may bring both positive and negative effects to the country.

And the mob cashes in
Some organizations may use this tourism influx as an opportunity to exploit the country and its people.

"I've tried not to be
Castro may make an attempt to not let these changes negatively impact the country or its values.

So petit bourgeoisie
Referring to the middle class and their values which may not align with socialist ideals.

But I can't help but feel
Castro may struggle with balancing change and maintaining the values of socialism in Cuba.

That the revolution's gone right round the bend"
He feels that some changes may be too much, and that the ideals of the Cuban Revolution may be lost in the process.

Run...
Repeating her need to leave quickly and end the conversation abruptly.