My Hometown (Live at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY - June/July 2000)

[Verse 1]

I was eight years old, running with a dime in my hand

To the bus stop to pick up a paper for my old man

I'd sit on his lap in that big old Buick, steer as we drove through town

Tousle my hair and say, "Son, take a good look around

[Refrain]

"This is your hometown, it's your hometown

This is your hometown, it's your hometown"

[Verse 2]

In '65 tension was running high at my high school

Was a lot of fights 'tween the black and white, there was nothing you could do

Two cars at a light on a Saturday night, back seat there was a gun

Words were passed, a shotgun blast, troubled times had come

[Refrain]

Here in my hometown, well, to my hometown

My hometown, here to my hometown

[Bridge]

Now Main Street's whitewashed windows and vacant stores

Seems like there ain't nobody wanna come down here no more

Well, they're closing down the textile mill 'cross the railroad tracks

Foreman says, "These jobs are going, boys, and they ain't coming back

[Refrain]

"To your hometown, baby, your hometown

Your hometown, baby, your hometown"

[Verse 3]

Last night me and Kate, we laid in bed, talkin' about getting out

Packing up our bags, maybe heading south

I'm thirty-five, we got a boy of our own now

Last night I sat him up behind the wheel and said, "Son, take a good look around

This is your hometown"

[Instrumental Outro]