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, where you buy a 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 hopheads 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 who*es
Disinfect terrazzo on their bathroom floors
The jobs are really menial, you make no bread
And then at 5 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 (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. 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 out of here
'Cause I constantly pray I'll get out of here
Please, won't somebody say I'll get out of here
Someone give me my shot, or I'll rot here
(Downtown, there's no rules for us)
Show me how, and I will, I'll get out of here
(Downtown, 'cause it's dangerous)
I'll start climbing uphill and get out of here
(Downtown, where the rainbow's just a no-show)
Someone tell me I still could get out of here
Someone tell lady luck that I'm stuck here
(When you go...)
(Downtown, where the sun don't shine)
Gee, it sure would be swell to get out of here
(Downtown, past the bottom line)
Bid the gutter farewell and get out of here
(Downtown. Go ask any wino, he'll know)
I'd move heaven and hell to get out of Skid
I'd do I don't know what to get out of Skid
(Downtown)
But a hell of a lot to get out of Skid
(Downtown)
People tell me there's not a way out of Skid
(Downtown)
But believe me, I gotta get out of Skid Row