Havana 1958 that's where everybody came Sailed down from the keys twice a year for a black jack game At the hotel trocadero we were introduced in a crowded room Later that night in a dress so tight one kiss and i was gone And her hair was gleaming I still believed in dreaming Viva the revolution because the people were so poor She wanted a constitution but the people were so poor There would be no political solution because the people were so poor When castro came down from the hills In the country side on her plantation there was sugar cane and rum At the night we'd drive into the city and act like tomorrow would never come For peace and justice to the virgin mary she would pray In the ballroom of the casino we danced while the music played And our lips would meet Her breath was so sweet We were so happy but the people were so poor We had a lot of money but her people were so poor Battista loved the yankees but the people were so poor Then castro came down from the hills It was new year's eve there was fighting in the streets and i waited as long as i could Then i caught the last boat out to the keys i should Have saw it coming because the people were so poor Fidel was ruthless he was cunning and the people were so poor I took no pride in running but the people were so poor When castro came down from the hills My sweet elena she owns a restaurant in south beach She's close enough to taste but she's so out of reach Some days i park on the boulevard and i watched her as she comes and goes Ah my sweet angel i still love her so And her hair still gleams But i don't dare dream We were so happy but the people were so poor She didn't come to meet me like she promised and the people were so poor Elena loved her yankee but her people were so poor When castro came down from the hills