Life and death in an alleyway,
Just a heartbeat away from a man
Who's learned to turn his head away
From the pain that drains the land.
Harlem's not too far from here;
You can smell the garbage, feel the fear.
I hear they're going to build a skyscraper there,
As if we didn't need the extra air.
New York City Blues
In order to win, you've got to lose.
Old before your time;
The dirt and the grime get into everything.
And the papers love to say
It's the meanest town in the USA.
But I think it's okay,
It's the town I make my home.
On another side of Park Avenue
Respectable folk don't know;
Hungry eyes take in the view
Of the world that lays them low.
Too many years on a welfare line;
The old song and dance time after time
You can only get so pushed around
Until you want to tear the damm thing down.
2x
New York City blues ...