Alarm goes off at seven
And you start uptown
You put in your eight hours
For the powers that have always been
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-heads flop
In the snow
Down on Skid Row
Uptown you cater to a million jerks
Uptown you're messengers and
Mail room clerks
Eating all your lunches at the
Hot dog carts
The bosses take your money
And they break your hearts
Uptown you cater to a million whores
You disinfect terrazzo on their
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!)
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
Ya live
Downtown
When your life's a mess
Ya live
Downtown
Where depressions' jes'
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
Downtown
Show me how and I will, I'll get outta here
Downtown, 'cause it's dangerous
I'll start climbing up hill 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 live
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 he'll to get outta skid
Downtown
I'd do I dunno what to get outta skid
Downtown
But 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!