Young Americans - Live in Detroit, 20th October 1974

He pulls her down behind the fridge
Takes her down, he frowns
Gee my life's a funny thing, am I still too young?
She takes his hand in prayer
She takes his ring, takes his babies
Takes him minutes, takes her nowhere
Heaven knows, she'd take anything, but

(All night)
All night, she wants a young American
(Young American, young American)
(She wants the young American)
All night
She wants the young American

Scanning life through the picture window
She spies her sneaky vagabond
Curses as he passes her Ford Mustang
Heaven knows, she'll take anything
But the freak, and his type, all for nothing
Misses a step and cuts his hand
Showing nothing, he swoops like a song
She cries, "Where have all Papa's heroes gone?"

(All night)
All night, she wants the young American
(Young American, young American)
(She wants the young American)
(All right)
She wants the young American

All the way from Washington
Her bread-winner begs off the bathroom floor
We live for just these twenty years
Do we have to die for the fifty more?

(All night)
All night, he wants the young American
(Young American, young American)
(He wants the young American)
All right
He wants the young American

Do you remember, President Nixon? (ooh)
Do you remember, the bills you have to pay?
Or even yesterday?

Have been the young American? (ooh)
Just you and your idol singing falsetto (ooh)
'Bout leather, leather everywhere, and
Not a myth left in the ghetto
Well, well, would you carry a razor (ooh)
Just in case, in case of depression? (ooh)
Sit on your hands with a bus of survivors
Blushing at all the Afro-Sheeners
Ain't that close to love?
Ain't that close to love?
It ain't no Barbie doll
Her heart's been broken just like you

(All night)
All night you want the young American
(Young American, young American)
(You want the young American)
All right
But you're lookin' for the young American

You ain't a pimp and you ain't a hustler
A pimp's got a Cadi', lady's got a Chrysler
Black's got respect, and white's got his soul train
Mama's got cramps, and look at my hands shake
(I heard the news today, oh boy)
I got a suite and you got defeat
(All right) Ain't there a man I can sock on the jaw?
Ain't there a woman who can say no more?
(Young American, young American) Ain't there a pen that will write before they die?
(I want the young American) Ain't there a... church?
(All right) Ain't you proud that you've still got faces?
Oh, ain't there a song that can make me
Break down and cry?

All night
All night, I want the young American
(Young American, young American)
(I want the young American) Yeah, yeah
All right
All night, I want the young American
(Young American, young American) I want what you want
(I want the young American) and you want what I want
(All right) I want you, you want I
I want, you want, I want, you want, I-
(Young American, young American, I want the young American) Oh-oh
(All right) Just lookin' for the young American
All night I want the young American