Skid Row (Downtown)

Alarm goes off at seven
And you start uptown
You put in your eight hours
For the powers that have always been
Sing it, child
Till it’s five P. M
Then you go
Downtown
Where the folks are broke
Downtown
Where your life’s a joke
Downtown
When you buy your token
You go
Home to skid row
Yes, you go
Downtown
Where the cabs don’t stop
Downtown
Where the food is slop
Downtown
Where the hop-heads flop
In the snow
Down on Skid Row
Uptown you cater to a million jerks
Uptown you’re messengers and
Mailroom clerks
Eating all your lunches at the
Hot dog carts
The bosses take your money
And they break your hearts
Uptown you cater to a million whores
You disinfect terrazzo on their
Bathroom floors
Your morning’s tribulation
Afternoon’s a curse
And five o’clock is even worse
That’s when you go
Where the guys are drips
Where they rip your slips
Where relationships are no go
Down on skid row
Down on skid row
Down on skid row
Downtown
Downtown
Downtown
Down on skid row
Down on skid row
Down on skid row
Down on skid row!
Poor! All my life I’ve always been poor
I keep asking God what I’m for
And he tells me «Gee, I’m not sure
Sweep that floor, kid.»
Oh, I started life as an orphan
A child of the street
Here on skid row
He took me in, gave me shelter, a bed
Crust of bread and a job
Treats me like dirt, calls me a slob
Which I am
So I live
That’s your home address
Ya live
When your life’s a mess
Ya live
Where depressions' just
Status Quo
Downtown
Downtown
Downtown
Down on skid row
Someone show me a way to get outta here
'Cause I constantly pray I’ll get outta here
Please, won’t somebody say I’ll get outta here
Someone gimme my shot or I’ll rot here
Show me how and I will. I’ll get outta here
I’ll start climbing up hill and get outta here
Someone tell me I still could get outta here
Someone tell Lady Luck that I’m stuck here
Downtown
There’s no rules for us
Downtown
'Cause it’s dangerous
Downtown
Where the rainbow’s just a no-show
When you live
Gee, it sure would be swell to get outta here
Bid the gutter farewell and get outta here
I’d move heaven and hell to get outta skid
I’ll do I dunno what to get outta skid
But a hell of a lot to get outta skid
People tell me there’s not a way outta skid
But believe me, I gotta get outta
Downtown
Where the sun don’t shine
Downtown
Past the bottom line
Downtown
Go ask any wino, he’ll know
Downtown
Downtown
Downtown
Downtown
Downtown
Skid Row!