Oscar Wilde died in bed several floors above my head Living well beyond his means in that crazy Paris scene Rain falls down in sheets so clear, no one ever calls me here Traveling by myself these days, I'm into jazz and felt berets Far from the that old eastern shore, searching for strange metaphors I don't want to be another victim of fashion No, I don't want to see my name in the paper each day You can leave that to the young Turks, they're more handsome and dashing Posing for paparazzis down Laguna way Now down in the metro, I feel the world start to multiply Bastille, rubber wheels, spiked heels, subterranean lullaby Met an African prancer, a hemisphere dancer, spied the ghost of Brassens We smiled at the secret we shared and I hid it like contraband Quietly making noise, making noise Starts with kindergarten toys Not too soft, not too loud Just enough to draw a crowd Quietly, quietly, quietly making noise Followed the beat, I found myself in this patois spot Outside a blizzard was blowing, but inside the joint was hot Zouk songs, rubber thongs, sing-a-longs, the words flew right by my face You know rhythm and motion's a blamma jamma potion you cannot erase Quietly making noise, making noise Pissin' off the old killjoys Glass packs on a hot Mustang A Telecaster with a twang Quietly, quietly, quietly making noise Singers and writers and poets have flocked here for centuries The city of light is built upon mountains of memories Baritone saxophone, monotones speak with the voice I've heard before It's a lasting impression, a Gypsy expression you cannot ignore We're quietly making noise, making noise Starts with kindergarten toys Not too soft, not too loud Just enough to draw a crowd Quietly, quietly, quietly making noise We're quietly making noise, making noise Pissin' off the old killjoys Not too soft, not too loud Just enough to draw a crowd We're quietly, quietly, quietly Quietly, quietly, quietly Quietly, quietly, quietly making noise Oh yeah, a whole lot of beautiful noise Come on children, play those kindergarten toys Everyone's a drummer tonight Let it ring now, let it ring