The Big Heat Lyrics

Stan Ridgway The Big Heat

The room was dark, it looked like someone had to get out fast
A window open by the fire escape
How long have you been following this guy, the bellboy asked
Not long enough, 'cause we got here too late
And everybody wants another piece of the pie today, he said
You gotta watch the ones who always keep their hands clean

Chorus:
It's the big heat, there's someone followin' you
It's the big heat, step aside, we're comin' through

Well, we followed him from Tuscon, ended up in Baton Rouge
We trailed him with information by
A woman he knew in Barstow that would like to see him dead
That was four weeks ago––well, maybe five
And everybody wants another piece of the pie today," she said
You gotta watch the ones who always keep their hands clean.

Chorus (repeat twice)

A block away he wondered if he'd left behind a clue
The front page of the paper dated 1992
He remembered when he used to be the chairman of the board
But that was when the world was young and long before the war
And everybody wants another piece of the pie today, he said
You gotta watch the ones who keep their hands clean

Chorus (repeat twice)