Hometown USA Blues
 

Walking down the dirty streets
Of this here river town
Watching last week’s evening paper
Getting blown round and round
By the ever changing winds which blow
Beer cans down the gutter
And whistles up the ghosts of time
Now hidden in the shudders

Time faded for sale signs
Replace the welcome mats
And cheap wine, pot, and cigarettes
Replace the bread and butter
A foolish politician
With no foresighted plans
Has left a barren, boarded town
Where once I played and ran
Now ignorance and poverty
Crawl blindly hand in hand
Just how it ever got this way
I won’t ever understand

Prostitutes and muggers
ply their trade with silent fervor
On the east end darkened corners
From Broadway to the river
Though many of its natives
Cannot see the evidence
Many more have lately changed
Their hometown residence

A scenic river valley
once saw its wealth in trade
it’s just too bad the whole damned town
has lost its confidence

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