Skid Row (Downtown)

[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 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

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!