John Mellencamp - The West End lyrics

Well the West End now The West End then Went by the other day Just to see my friend His house was dark His socks were thin I told him let's get out the West End For my whole life I've lived down in the West End But it sure has changed here Since I was a kid It's worse now Look what progress did Someone lined their pockets I don't know who that is Well my old man slaved Down here in the West End He thought the future was bright Way back then But it beat him down Till he had nothing to give It broke his back Took away his will to live Now me I don't think much of the West End Ain't gonna end up Like the old man did 'Cause I got dreams and they're bigger than this As far as I'm concerned You can keep the West End Well I guess down here In the West End Broken promises Now and then It's not even fair To think that they would 'Cause the West End now Ain't no damn good Out there somewhere You know there's gotta be a place Where a man can live With a smile on his face And every day something new begins But it ain't down here At the West End Some day down here In the West End No one will remember How the whole place began