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
Til 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 your messengers and mailroom clerks
Eatin' all your lunches at the hot-dog carts
The bosses take your money
And they break your hearts.

And uptown you cater to a million whores
You disinfect terrazzo on their bathroom floors
Jobs are really meanial, You'll make no bread
And then at five o'clock you head
By subway.

Downtown
Where the guys are drips
Downtown
Where they rip your slips
Downtown
Where relationships are no-go
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 jes' status quo!

Down on Skid Row!
Someone show me a way to get outa here
Cause I constantly pray i'll get outa here
Please won't somebody say i'll get outa here
Someone gimme my shot or i'll rot here!

Show me how and I will, Downtown
I'll get outa here There's no rules for us
I'll start climbin' up hill Downtown
And get outa here Cause it's dangerous
Someone tell me I still Downtown
Could get outa here Where the rainbow's just
Someone tell lady luck A no-show!
That I'm stuck here When you live.

Gee, it sure would Downtown
Be swell Where the sun don't
To get outa here shine!
Bid the gutter fare- Downtown
Well Past the bottom
And get outa here line
I'd move heaven and Downtown
Hell Go ask any wino
To get outa Skid He'll know
I'd do I-dunno-what
To get outa Skid
But a hell of a lot Downtown
To get outa Skid
People tell me Downtown
Theres
Not a way outa Skid
But believe me I Downtown
Gotta get outa
Skid Row!