Sandy Rapp - New York City Woman

New York City Woman © Sandy Rapp 1996

Born in the Bronx she was a teacher and a nun
Who then became a New York cop instead.
She ended up with twenty years to life in Bedford Hills
Cause Sheila Ryan shot Bob Bissett dead.
Three men jumped Sheila Ryan on the street.
All were armed one raped her in a van.
Then she ran to get her husband they were off to the police
When Sheila Ryan shot this Bissett man.

chorus:
New York City Woman where ya been?
Eyes of blue and hair like gold lamé.
New York teacher, New York nun, and then New York Police,
For ten long years a prisoner of the State.

Her husband Pete Deluca said where did this come about?
And Sheila said we're passing by right now.
My God the van's still there let's go and get the numbers down.
They stopped for there was not a soul around.
Then from behind Bob Bissett came a chargin'
He roared and knocked Deluca to the ground.
He said this time you're dead but this time Sheila had her gun.
And this time Sheila shot Bob Bissett down. repeat chorus

Who was this Bobby Bissett for who's killing Sheila served?
He'd killed before in Inwood and it seems
He'd abducted a nineteen-year-old whose mother dropped the charge.
A real model citizen was he..
And why had Sheila never testified?
Why had she spent ten years in Bedford Hills?
Her defense feared that her gay past would hang her out to dry,
But ten years later she won on appeal.

alternate chorus:
New York City Woman's not alone.
Some things'll make a patron saint to kill.
There are a thousand women waitin' out a million years
From Chowchilla to the cold of Bedford Hills. repeat chorus

Written by:
Sandy Rapp

Publisher:
Lyrics © SANDY RAPP

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