¡Ay, qué noche

[Intro – trumpet fanfare, bongos, cowbell, crowd cheering] ¡Oye, mi gente! ¡Esto es La Habana! [clave rhythm starts, 2 bars] [Verse 1 – male, rhythmic and passionate, syncopated] The sun goes down, the heat stays high, Moondust falls from a Cuban sky. Sweat on my skin, rum on my breath, One step tonight could lead to death – A death of sorrow, a death of blues, Under the rhythm of the midnight cruise. [piano montuno riff, 2 bars] [Pre-chorus – voice rises, more urgent] She moves like fire, she burns the floor, She knocks and opens every door. Her hips don't lie, her eyes don't blink, She pulls me under – I don't even think! [Chorus – full brass, male lead, crowd call and response] ¡Ay, qué noche! (¡qué noche!) Burns like a habano, sweet and tough. ¡Ay, qué noche! (¡qué noche!) One more dance, I can't get enough. The stars are melting on Malecón, My heart is a bongo drum going on and on. ¡Ay, qué noche! (¡qué noche!) Havana owns me 'til the dawn. [cowbell and shaker fill, 2 bars] [Verse 2 – male, slightly breathy, proud] Taxi amarillo, old Chevys roll, The rhythm grabs and takes control. A girl in red with a flower in her hair, She pulls me close – I follow her there. No words, just hips, no past, no plan, Just a man who's finally a man. [trumpet solo, 8 bars, energetic] [Chorus – repeat, with added backing vocals (¡yeah!)] ¡Ay, qué noche! (¡qué noche!) Burns like a habano, sweet and tough. ¡Ay, qué noche! (¡qué noche!) One more dance, I can't get enough. The stars are melting on Malecón, My heart is a bongo drum going on and on. ¡Ay, qué noche! (¡qué noche!) Havana owns me 'til the dawn. [Bridge – spoken, passionate, then sung] [spoken] The night is young, and so are we. Let the rum keep pouring, let the salsa be free. Forget your name, forget your home, Tonight we are all just dancing alone – together. [sung, slower, building] La Habana te llama… (Havana is calling you…) La noche te quema… (the night is burning you…) One more chance, one more sin, Let the party begin again! [Guitar / piano montuno break, 4 bars, full percussion] [Final chorus – biggest energy, brass blasts, crowd chanting] ¡Ay, qué noche! (¡qué noche!) Burns like a habano, sweet and tough. ¡Ay, qué noche! (¡qué noche!) One more dance – I can't get enough! The stars are melting on Malecón, My heart is a bongo drum going on and on. ¡Ay, qué noche! (¡qué noche!) Havana owns me 'til the dawn. [repeat last line, fading] Havana owns me 'til the dawn… ¡Hasta el amanecer! (Until dawn!) [Outro – trumpets fade, cowbell solo 4 bars, crowd laughing, bottle clink] ¡Oye! … ¡Cuba, te quiero! [bongo hit, then silence]