American City Suite

Lyrics

[Part I: Sweet City Song] [Verse 1] People goin', comin', trolley car was hummin' A sweet city song Everyone your neighbor Livin' had a flavor With a sweet city song There was a certain way that the city sang Made you glad you belonged I remember now that the rhythm somehow Made me want to sing along [Chorus] Do do do do, sweet city song Do do do do, sweet city song Oh, come on along [Verse 2] Boxes on a brick wall Boys are playin' stickball The chicks are walkin' by Somethin' 'bout their sweaters Made you play a little better Or at least you'd try Meanwhile on the corner A group is singin' in Three-part harmony There was a time when you couldn't find A better place to be [Chorus] Do do do do, sweet city song Do do do do, sweet city song Do do do do, sweet city song Come on [Bridge] Johnny, ride the pony The Dodger's own sym-phoney An egg cream at the Corner candy store Radio and dancing slow Who could ask for more [Chorus] Do do do do, sweet city song Do do do do, sweet city song Do do do do, sweet city song Come on along [Part II: Hello Jack] Hello, Jack, it's good to be back I've been away at school Yeah, Ed, I heard what you said You know that I'm no fool I know that it's changin' I see that it's changed I know that it's changin' I see that it's changed But goodbye is too hard for me to say When I still believe the good things outweigh the bad I think of all the good times we had Think of all the good times we had [Part III: All Around The Town] A junkie steals, a mayor deals Who knows what's comin' next Traffic jams and greedy hands Did you read it in the text Of the Daily News, the subway blues How does your garden grow Endless strikes and the likes All lined up in a row [Chorus] Something is wrong here That doesn't belong here People are lockin' themselves behind their own four walls It falls from the skies here But no one's surprised here And maybe that's the saddest part of all Jesus freaks, Mohammed speaks The Lord is on their team Tenements and midtown rents All rich and poor, no in-between Say a prayer, then breathe the air In the cold or heat When evening falls, the city calls But the lights only shine on empty streets [Chorus] Something is wrong here That doesn't belong here People are lockin' themselves behind their own four walls It falls from the skies here But no one's surprised here And maybe that's the saddest part of all [Chorus] Something is wrong here That doesn't belong here People are lockin' themselves behind their own four walls It falls from the skies here But no one's surprised here And maybe that's the saddest part of all [Part IV: A Friend Is Dying] I think of her and I think of life's own music At least that's the way it used to be I think of her and I see the children laughing But it's only on the streets of my memory [Chorus] And I never felt so lonely and so helpless Wishin' that I didn't know the truth But they tell me that a friend is dyin' And there's nothin' in this world I can do When she was good, it was oh, so good You were blessed if she smiled on you You could be king if she believed your story But it was over if she laughed at you [Chorus] And I never felt so lonely and so helpless Wishin' that I didn't know the truth But they tell me that a friend is dyin' And there's nothin' in this world I can do [Bridge] The hands that used to reach out to everybody Now they're lyin' by her side And her eyes are closed and no one really knows If she can make it through another night Still most of what I love is locked inside her Everything I thought I'd ever need My heart keeps crying "You've got to hold on a little bit longer" But my head is sure that it's time to leave [Chorus] And I never felt so lonely and so helpless Wishin' that I didn't know the truth But they tell me that a friend is dyin' And there's nothin' in this world I can do [Chorus] And I never felt so lonely and so helpless Wishin' that I didn't know the truth They tell me that a friend, a friend is dying Oh, New York City, can you say it ain't true Can you tell me now before I'm leavin' you I'd give anything I own just to believe in you again