Rupert Holmes - Brass Knuckles Lyrics






Workin' out of homicide
They told me Joe Vinelli died
We'd been a team for seven years
His widow wouldn't waste her tears
Who'd done him no one seemed to care
'Cause crooked cops foul up the air
But since I worked so long with Joe
I felt I had the right to know

I found a club in Malibu
He'd gone when he felt black and blue
Twenty bucks in petty cash
The hat-check girl spilled out some trash
In a tale I heard a name
That rang a gong to save the game
A congressman named Thollie Doakes
Who had a place in Sherman Oaks

Step softly gumshoe, you're out of your class
You're trailing money therefore then there's glass in the grass
Brass knuckles won't help when your hands ain't clean
Rubber hoses, broken noses are a trench coat scene
And you ain't dressed for this affair
You're breathing rarified air

Up through the luscious estate I wheeled
A servant made me show my shield
The congressman conversed with me
He flashed his smile convincingly
He said he'd not a thing to hide
Which told me right away he lied
'Cause how could he afford the rent
Unless he's somewhat overspent

But down the stairs he missed his dose
The kind that takes off ermine cloaks
She'd left her furs upon her bed
And slipped on angel lace instead
Her husband left to get a drink
Her eyes squared up the way I think
I figured Doakes had murdered Joe
When blackmail for his needing go

Brass knuckles copper, you're falling in love
You're near the rim of hell but you see heaven above
Brass knuckes won't fail you but the light touch will
Pistol holder, chip on shoulder with your guts set to spill
You think that justice owes you face
You brain is loaded with blanks

The angel felt heavenly
She sank her body into me
My double-breasted suit fit fine
Her form aligned itself with mine
I wonder I'd a natural brain
I smelled the truth out clean and plain
I'd have to take her husband in that night
I hoped he'd come without a fight

That when the angel stole my gun
And said, "I hate to spoil your fun"
Then laughing she explained to me
The murderer was none but she
A love affair with Joe went tired
And six shots into him she fired
The congressman a jerk like me
Covered up to keep her free

So good-bye shameless, I'll aim for the chest
The bullet hole that entered near the top of your vest
You lost your heart already so you won't feel the pain
Brass knuckles, brass knuckles and a brass-headed brain
Take a breath, prepare to crash
You'll see a bright, blinding flash





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Rupert Holmes Brass Knuckles Comments
  1. r.... ....

    Screw this Lupert Fiascomes stuff... Rupe Hiomsesco brought me here...I will never listen to the sample tune if I can help it. Sorry for the hate, haha. Listen to all of Rupert's albums, blah, blah, u know the drill...

  2. K.... J....

    Soundtrakk is a genius for his cut and flip of this song. Sounds a lot like Steely Dan telling a gritty fucked up story.

  3. R.... ....

    I forgot how smooth this was. Thanks Lupe.

  4. B.... H....

    Very beautiful...

  5. T.... ....

    I know he is a cop in the song is gangsta as hell the way he went looking for the killer

  6. h.... ....

    Awesome arrangement.

  7. J.... M....

    Lyrics:

    Workin' out of homicide
    They told me Joe Vinelli died
    We'd been a team for seven years
    His widow wouldn't waste her tears
    Who'd done him no one seemed to care
    'Cause crooked cops foul up the air
    But since I worked so long with Joe
    I felt I had the right to know

    I found a club in Malibu
    He'd gone when he felt black and blue
    Twenty bucks in petty cash
    The hat-check girl spilled out some trash
    In a tale I heard a name
    That rang a gong to save the game
    A congressman named Thollie Doakes
    Who had a place in Sherman Oaks

    Step softly gumshoe, you're out of your class
    You're trailing money therefore then there's glass in the grass
    Brass knuckles won't help when your hands ain't clean
    Rubber hoses, broken noses are a trench coat scene
    And you ain't dressed for this affair
    You're breathing rarified air

    Up through the luscious estate I wheeled
    A servant made me show my shield
    The congressman conversed with me
    He flashed his smile convincingly
    He said he'd not a thing to hide
    Which told me right away he lied
    'Cause how could he afford the rent
    Unless he's somewhat overspent

    But down the stairs came Mrs. Doakes
    The kind that takes off ermine cloaks
    She'd left her furs upon her bed
    And slipped on angel lace instead
    Her husband left to get a drink
    Her eyes squared up the way I think
    I figured Doakes had murdered Joe
    When blackmail for his needing go

    Brass knuckles copper, you're falling in love
    You're near the rim of hell but you see heaven above
    Brass knuckes won't fail you but the light touch will
    Pistol holder, chip on shoulder with your guts set to spill
    You think that justice owes you face
    You brain is loaded with blanks

    The angel felt heavenly
    She sank her body into me
    My double-breasted suit fit fine
    Her form aligned itself with mine
    I wonder I'd a natural brain
    I smelled the truth out clean and plain
    I'd have to take her husband in that night
    I hoped he'd come without a fight

    That when the angel stole my gun
    And said, "I hate to spoil your fun"
    Then laughing she explained to me
    The murderer was none but she
    A love affair with Joe went tired
    And six shots into him she fired
    The congressman a jerk like me
    Covered up to keep her free

    So good-bye shameless, I'll aim for the chest
    The bullet hole that entered near the top of your vest
    You lost your heart already so you won't feel the pain
    Brass knuckles, brass knuckles and a brass-headed brain
    Take a breath, prepare to crash
    You'll see a bright, blinding flash!

    J.... M....

    Jonathan Morales
    "So goodbye Shamus". Not "shameless". Means detective.

    J.... M....

    There are a few incorrect words here, but it's mostly legit.

  8. J.... T....

    Musicality is fucking on point.

  9. E.... D....

    Perfection.

  10. Q.... S....

    RUPErt! RUPE......LUPE!! XD

  11. M.... Y....

    Lupe Fiasco brought me here! 😊

    M.... Y....

    looool me too

    M.... Y....

    REVENGE pt2 💯

  12. P.... B....

    some of that Steely Dan going on

    P.... B....

    Totally!

  13. t.... n....

    I want to frame his lyrics and just decorate my walls with em.

    t.... n....

    Indeed. : )

  14. A.... Y....

    Genius. And lupe did kill this song. Better than anyone who could ever approach it. It was perfect for lupe.

    A.... Y....

    @Angelo Young hell yes!

    A.... Y....

    Shouldn't Soundtrakk get credit for it tho?

  15. z.... ....

    Superb!

  16. M.... ....

    This is hot

  17. G.... R....

    FUCKING WOW

  18. R.... W....

    Awesome

  19. a.... ....

    Good Lord!!  What an amazing piece of music.
    "..and the stairs came Mrs. Dokes.  The kind that takes off ermine cloaks.."

  20. S.... ....

    2nd word

  21. J.... J....

    *Holmes!!!!!

  22. J.... J....

    2012 Rupert Murdock !!!!!!!!!!!

  23. K.... A....

    I'd love to have the lyrics... It's like a little story there

  24. a.... ....

    It sounds like a Clavinet

  25. L.... C....

    what this guy can do with a song and lyrics!!!!!!...one of the all time great ones Mr RUPERT HOLMES...

    L.... C....

    Who's better, him or Steely Dan? I'm going with Holmes.

  26. M.... I....

    bellissima........

  27. J.... F....

    Any help on the lyrics for this most truthful song?? Was a cop for 24 years and most certainly know about crooked cops. I have looked w/o aval. lyrices..

  28. H.... D....

    @MasterProducerXXXL No sorry i cant

  29. H.... D....

    @Squallandboco1 LOL i remember that!

  30. R.... B....

    Anyone have the full lyrics to the song or link to them??

  31. C.... S....

    This sounds like the song from deling city in final fantasy VIII

    C.... S....

    i thought it kinda sounded familiar

  32. d.... ....

    @blvakalilbear "rubber hoses, broken noses are a trench coats seam and you aint dressed for this affair"

    d.... ....

    "Scene", not "seam"....

  33. B.... ....

    Great: Your brain is loaded with ... blanks

  34. B.... ....

    lol, did he just say. "and you ain't dressed for this affair.....FOREAL" ahahahah

  35. B.... ....

    @beastnstuff lmaoo

  36. b.... ....

    What did say at 4:12 also

    b.... ....

    "the bullet here will enter near the top of your vest" basically he just needed an exact line of lyrics to rhyme with the previous. Further elaboration on where she's aiming

  37. b.... ....

    What is he saying at 1:32

    b.... ....

    "Rubber hoses, broken noses are a trenchcoat scene", referring to the detective's unethical and/or outdated methods of interrogation with "trenchcoat scene" being a reference to classic pulp detectives (for example, Sam Spade)

  38. b.... ....

    this song is gangster as shit

  39. t.... ....

    I know. finally