American Jerusalem

[Verse 1: Shawn Colvin] New York City rain Don’t know if it’s makin’ me Dirty or clean Went for the subway but there was no train And the tunnel was grumbling for repairs again And the sign says welcome to American Jerusalem [Verse 2: Shawn Colvin] I’ve been around You could spend forever Makin’ a friend in this town All you get to do Is lay your dollar down Until you’re stumbling drunk up the stairs again And the sign says welcome to American Jerusalem [Chorus: Shawn Colvin & Emmylou Harris] In the temples of American Jerusalem They buy an ounce of South African gold They don’t care who was bought or sold Or who died to mine it [Chorus: Shawn Colvin & Emmylou Harris] In the temples of American Jerusalem They buy an ounce of Marseille white Somewhere on a street with no light Somebody dies tryin’ it [Verse 3: Shawn Colvin] Then somewhere in a crowd Lookin’ that kinda way that’ll make you turn around There’ll be somebody who knows what it’s about And he’ll take the ribbons from your hair again And welcome you to American Jerusalem [Chorus: Shawn Colvin & Emmylou Harris] In the alleys of American Jerusalem The homeless lie down at the dawn The pretty people wonder what they’re on And how they afford it [Chorus: Shawn Colvin & Emmylou Harris] In the ashes of American Jerusalem The prophets live their deaths out on the corner The pretty people say there should’ve been a warnin’ But nobody heard it [Verse 4: Shawn Colvin] Then shadows lick the sun The streets are paved with Footsteps on the run Somebody musta got double 'Cause I got none I forgot to collect my share again So go west to breathe the cleansing air again Go Niagara for your honeymoon again Go on the road if you’re gonna sing your tune again Go out to sea and learn to be a man again Until you come on home to American Jerusalem