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, where 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 mailroom clerks
Eating 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
The jobs are really menial, you 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 (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 askin' 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, crusts 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, you live
(Downtown) When your life's a mess, you 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 climbin' uphill 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 gotta get outta Skid Row