Elvis Costello - The Old Main Drag lyrics

When I first came to London I was only sixteen With a fiver in my pocket and my old dancing bag I went down to the 'dilly to check out the scene But I soon ended up upon the old main drag There the he-males and the she-males paraded in style And the old man with the money would flash you a smile In the dark of an alley you'd work for a five For a swift one off the wrist down on the old main drag In the cold winter nights the old town it was chill But there were boys in the cafes who'd give you cheap pills If you didn't have the money you'd cajole and you'd beg There was always lots of Tuinal on the old main drag One evening as I was lying down in Leicester Square I was picked up by the coppers and kicked in the balls Between the metal doors at Vine Street I was beaten and mauled And they ruined my good looks for the old main drag In the tube station the old ones who were on the way out Would dribble and vomit and grovel and shout And the coppers would come along and push them about And I wished I could escape from the old main drag And now I'm lying here I've had too much booze I've been shat on and spat on and raped and abused I know that I am dying and I wish I could beg For some money to take me from the old main drag