The No Hotel

[Intro]
In 1989 I was in Manaos
With a party of tree-huggers, with Dr. David Suzuki
And we were to meet up with Sting on the Xingu river
Which was a tributary of the Amazon
Uh, had to take [?] out into the suburbs of Manaos
Which is a city of about one and a half million people
About halfway up the Amazon river
Got there about four o'clock in the morning to the Nobo Hotel
And when I got there I noticed that the, uh
Two of the letters in the name of the hotel were burned out
In the neon sign
So it was like just, "The No Hotel"
And, uh, that stuck with me as a song title
Over the number of years which ensued
And it was three months ago I finished the song
It's called "The No Hotel"
One two three four

[Verse 1]
Down around the No Hotel
Look for me, they know me well
Travelers come and travelers go
Down around the Hotel No
If you choose the No Hotel
Be prepared to run pell mell
Be another burnt out shell
You checked in the No Hotel

[Verse 2]
Down around the No Hotel
Water there don't flow so well
Problems come and problems go
Freezing shower, say hello
If you choose the No Hotel
And the bellhop never rings the bell
Why there's another ne'er do well
Just checked in the No Hotel

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3]
Down around the No Hotel
Look for me, the human shell
Strangers moving to and fro
All around the Hotel No
When dining at the No Hotel
There's caterers who cater not
And waiters who don't wait a lot
You've checked in the No Hotel

[Verse 4]
Living at the No Hotel
Just another ne'er do well
Seasons ebb and seasons flow
Down around the Hotel No
Snug in your No Hotel room
See the little critters fly
Above the bed sheets telling lies
You've checked in the No Hotel

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 5]
Down around the No Hotel
Look for me, they know me well
Travelers come and travelers go
It's the only world they know
And if you choose the No Hotel
The bellhop never rings the bell
Now he's another burnt out shell
You've checked in the No Hotel