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‘Playing Canasta’ is a song written by Kate Bush. It was recorded as a demo, presumably in 1976. The song has never been released officially, but it did end up on various bootlegs. The song is also known as ‘In My Lover’s Room’, ‘Playing Canasta In Cold Rooms’ and ‘Rinfy The Gypsy’.

The demo appears on the bootleg 7″ single Cathy Demos Volume Two and various bootleg CD’s.

Lyrics

I fell in love with Rinfy the gypsy
He said when I grew up he’d marry me
Carry me away on his steed

“Don’t worry, my baby!
Don’t die, my funny little darling!
I’m going away for a little while
And shouldn’t be gone for very long.”

Ooh, then I really fell for Geoffrey, our gardener
He said he’d marry me, too
Oh, and I believed him, just like a fool

“Don’t worry, my honey!
Don’t die, my funny little doll!
I’m going away for a little while
Shouldn’t be gone for very long”
(Ooh, long, long, long…)

Playing canasta in c-cold rooms
Playing canasta in cold rooms
Playing canasta upstairs, downstairs
And in my lover’s room

I met a boy who took me upstairs,
Then took me in his arms and told me
I comforted him, uh-huh

“Don’t worry, my dear,
Don’t cry, you weird little stranger
I’m going away
You probably won’t ever see me again.”

Oh, yes, I know, I’m always falling,
Gazing at hazy goldfish in your swimming eyes
How could I not lie there with you?

“Don’t worry, my darling!
Don’t die, my silly little baby!
I’m going away for a little while,
And shouldn’t be gone for very long.”
(Ooh, long, long, long!)

Playing canasta in c-cold rooms,
Playing canasta in cold rooms,
Playing canasta upstairs, downstairs,
And in my lover’s room