Ballad of the Lower East Side

Things are different today, back in New York

I lived down on Third Street Way back in the day

There were junkies, pimps and whores, hallelujah

Now it’s squeaky clean, there’s no place left to stay

Hey!

Things are different today, back in New York

I lived down on Third Street Way back in the day

There were junkies, pimps and whores, hallelujah

Now it’s squeaky clean, there’s no place left to stay

I remember well, the streets and all that smell

Rats and roaches in my kitchen – oh fucking hell!

Landlord at my door, always wanting more

Local dealer kept the thugs away

Hey!

It was such a perfect mess, what they call the LES

Life was art on every corner, but now there’s so much less

That’s why I find talk is square, they ask me if I cared

Gimmie back that apple in decay!

Things are different today, back in New York

I lived down on Third Street Way back in the day

There were junkies, pimps and whores, hallelujah

Now it’s squeaky clean, there’s no place left to stay

Now it’s squeaky clean, there’s no place left to play

Now it’s squeaky clean, there’s no place left to stay