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, you go

Downtown, where your life's a joke, you go

Downtown, when you buy your token, you go

Home to Skid Row

(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 mail-room 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)

Downtown, where the guys are drips

Downtown, where they rip your slips

Downtown, where relationships are no go

Down on Skid Row (down on Skid Row)

Down on Skid Row (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

(Downtown) That's your home address, ya live

(Downtown) When your life's a mess, ya live

(Downtown) Where depression's just status quo

(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

(Downtown, there's no rules for us) Show me how and I will, I'll get outta here

(Downtown, 'cause it's dangerous) I'll start climbing up hill and get outta here

(Downtown, where the rainbow's just a no-show) Someone tell me I still could get outta here

Someone tell lady luck that I'm stuck here (when you live)

(Downtown, where the sun don't shine) Gee, it sure would be swell to get outta here

(Downtown, past the bottom line) Bid the gutter farewell and get outta here

(Downtown, go ask any wino, he'll know) I'd move heaven and hell to get outta Skid

I'd do I don't know what to get outta Skid

(Downtown) But a hell of a lot to get outta Skid

(Downtown) People tell me there's not a way outta Skid

(Downtown) But believe me, I've gotta get outta Skid Row