Skid Row (Downtown)

Lyrics

[WOMAN] Alarm goes off at seven And you start uptown You put in your eight hours for the powers That have always been [CHIFFON, spoken] Sing it, child [WOMAN] 'Til it's 5 p.m.  [BUM 1] Then you go [CHIFFON, CRYSTAL & RONETTE] 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 [BUM 2] Yes, you go [CHIFFON, CRYSTAL & RONETTE, SKID ROW RESIDENTS] 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 [CHIFFON & CRYSTAL & RONETTE] 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 Disinfect terrazzo on their bathroom floors The jobs are really menial, you make no bread And then at 5 o'clock you head [BUM 3] By subway [AUDREY, CHIFFON & CRYSTAL & RONETTE] 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) [AUDREY & CHIFFON & CRYSTAL & RONETTE] Down on Skid Row [SEYMOUR] 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 [SEYMOUR, CHIFFON & CRYSTAL & RONETTE] 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) [SEYMOUR] 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 [SEYMOUR, CHIFFON & CRYSTAL & RONETTE] (Downtown, there's no rules for us) Show me how, and I will, I'll get outta here (Downtown, 'cause it's dangerous) I'll start climbing uphill and get outta here (Downtown, where the rainbow's just a no-show) Someone tell me I still could get outta here Someone tell Lady Luck that I'm stuck here (When you go) [SEYMOUR & AUDREY, CHIFFON & CRYSTAL & RONETTE] (Downtown, where the sun don't shine) Gee, it sure would be swell to get outta here (Downtown, past the bottom line) Bid the gutter farewell and get outta here (Downtown, go ask any wino, he'll know) I'd move Heaven and Hell to get outta Skid (Row) I'd do I don't know what to get outta Skid (Downtown!) Done a Hell of a lot to get outta Skid (Downtown!) People tell me there's not a way outta Skid (Downtown!) But believe me, I gotta get outta Skid Row!