Alarm goes off at seven
And you start uptown
You put in your eight hours for the powers that have always been
(Ooh, 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
When 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-less 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 your bathroom floors
Your morning's tribulation afternoon's a curse
And five o'clock is even worse
That's when you go
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 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 depressions' 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
Show me how and I will, I'll get outta here
I'll start climbing up hill and get outta here
Someone tell me I still could get outta here
Someone tell Lady Luck that I'm stuck here
Gee, it sure would be swell to get outta here
Bid the gutter farewell and get outta here
I'd move heaven and hell to get outta skid
I'll do I don't know what to get outta skid
But a hell of a lot to get outta skid
People tell me there's not a way outta skid
But believe me, I've got to get outta skid row