Chicago

Third floor walk-up
One block east of Chinatown
She walked by my window
While the rain is pouring down

Looking in she sees
The easy money lying everywhere
And it's clear she don't approve
(And it's clear she don't approve)

Through a cloud of smoke
I shoot a little smile over there
And I know what she's thinking

She know Mah-Jong
Mah-Jong she don't play
She know Mah-Jong
Waste your life away
(Don't you throw it away)
She know Mah-Jong
Mah-Jong she don't play
But she loves the player

With the dark eyes burning
I am opening the wall
(Can there be no other chance?)

I feel my fortune's turning
And I wish for nothing else at all
(Than to run to her)

Looking up I see her signal
With her fingers through her hair
Telling me the hands are clean

Understanding well
I turn a dragon tail into a pair
And the game is over

She know Mah-Jong
Mah-Jong she don't play
(She don't play)
She know Mah-Jong
Waste your life away
(Don't you throw it away)
She know Mah-Jong
Mah-Jong she don't play
Though I don't obey her
Still she loves the player

She know Mah-Jong
Mah-Jong she don't play
She know Mah-Jong
Waste your life away
(Don't you throw it away)
She know Mah-Jong
Mah-Jong she don't play
Though I don't obey her
Still she loves the player

Three floors up from where the lanterns
Light the parlors on the street
There awaits another world
(There awaits another world)

And though there are not many things
Upon which she and I agree
We enjoy the difference

She know Mah-Jong
Mah-Jong she don't play
(Don't you play)
She know Mah-Jong
Waste your life away
(Don't you throw it away)
She know Mah-Jong
Mah-Jong she don't play
Though I don't obey her
Still she loves the player

Chicago is a rock band hailing from the Illinois city of the same name. With its multitude of certified gold and platinum hits, the band has had enough longevity to last for over fifty years.

Chicago was formed on February 15, 1967, between keyboardist/singer Robert Lamm, trumpeter Lee Loughnane, saxophonist Walter Parazaider, drummer Danny Seraphine, guitarist Terry Kath, and trombonist James Pankow. The group called themselves “The Big Thing,” and played Top 40 hits in nightclubs in Chicago. In 1968, the band relocated to Los Angles, and changed their name to Chicago Transit Authority. They gained massive amounts of exposure to famous musicians of the time by regularly playing at the Whiskey A Go Go nightclub. In 1969, they released a self-titled album which peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart. The next year, the band shortened their name to “Chicago” to avoid a lawsuit from the actual company of the same name.

The band has released a plethora of albums, most of them titled Chicago enumerated with Roman numerals. The band changed its sound in the late 70s and 80s following the death of Terry Kath. Since then, the band has still carried on a legacy for the decades following, but has slowed the release of original music to a trickle.

more tracks from the album

Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus

From the album

Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus (2008)

Chicago popular songs

Mah-Jong (demo)Chicago

Chicago

Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus