Skid Row (Downtown) lyrics

[CRYSTAL]
Alarm goes off at seven
And you start uptown
You put in your eight hours
For the powers that have always been

[RONETTE, spoken]
Sing it, child

[CRYSTAL]
Till it's five P.M

[BUM]
Then you go...

[CRYSTAL & RONNETE & CHIFFON]
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
[BUM]
Yes, you go...

[COMPANY]
Downtown

[CRYSTAL]
Where the cabs don't stop

[COMPANY]
Downtown

[MR. MUSHNIK]
Where the food is slop

[COMPANY]
Downtown
Where the hop-heads flop in the snow
Down on Skid Row

[GIRLS]
Uptown you cater to a million j*rks
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
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!

[BUM]
That's when you go...

[CRYSTAL & RONNETE & CHIFFON]
Downtown

[AUDREY]
Where the guys are drips

[CRYSTAL & RONNETE & CHIFFON]
Downtown

[AUDREY]
Where they rip your slips

[AUDREY & CRYSTAL & RONNETE & CHIFFON]
Downtown

[AUDREY & (COMPANY)]
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
[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
So I live...

[CRYSTAL & RONNETE & CHIFFON]
Downtown

[SEYMOUR]
That's your home address
Ya live

[CRYSTAL & RONNETE & CHIFFON]
Downtown

[SEYMOUR]
When your life's a mess
Ya live

[CRYSTAL & RONNETE & CHIFFON]
Downtown

[SEYMOUR]
Where depression's just status quo

[COMPANY]
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]
Show me how and I will, I'll get outta here
I’ll start climbing uphill and get outta here
Someone tell me I still can get outta here
Someone tell Lady Luck that I’m stuck here!

[COMPANY]
Downtown
There's no rules for us
Downtown
'Cause it's dangerous
Downtown
Where the rainbow's just a no-show
When you live...

[SEYMOUR & AUDREY]
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'd do I don't-know-what to get outta Skid
Done a Hell of a lot to get outta Skid
People tell me there's not a way outta Skid
But believe me, I gotta get outta

[COMPANY]
Downtown
Where the sun don't shine
Downtown
Past the bottom line
Downtown
Go ask any wino, he'll know
Downtown
Downtown
Downtown
Downtown

[COMPANY]
Skid Row!