I've been down,I've been down
Mean and empty,broke an' bust
End of my tether,down on luck
Last chance,last chance
Scarlet Town,on my way
Scarlet Town,Scarlet Town.
In Scarlet Town, where I was born
Theres ivy leaf and silver thorn
The streets have names that you cant pronounce
Gold is down to a quarter of an ounce
The music starts and the people sway
Everybody says, Are you going my way?"
Uncle Tom still workin' for Uncle Bill
Scarlet Town is under the hill
Scarlet Town in the month of May
Sweet William Holme on his deathbed lay
Mistress Mary by the side of the bed
Kissin' his face and puttin' prayers on his head
So brave and true, so gentle is he
Ill weep for him as he would weep for me
Little Boy Blue come your blow horn
In Scarlet Town, where I was born
Scarlet Town, in the hot noon hours,
Theres palm-leaf shadows and scattered flowers
Beggars crouching at the gate
Help comes, but it comes too late
By marble slabs and in fields of stone
You make your humble wishes known
I touched the garment, but the hem was torn
In Scarlet Town, where I was born
In Scarlet Town, the end is near
The Seven Wonders of the World are here
The evil and the good livin' side by side
All human forms seem glorified
Put your heart on a platter and see who will bite
See who will hold you and kiss you good night
Theres walnut groves and maplewood
In Scarlet Town cryin' wont do no good
In Scarlet Town, you fight your fathers foes
Up on the hill, a chilly wind blows
You fight em on high and you fight 'em down in
You fight 'em with whiskey, morphine and gin
Youve got legs that can drive men mad
A lot of things we didnt do that I wish we had
In Scarlet Town, the sky is clear
Youll wish to God that you stayed right here
Set em Joe, play Walkin the Floor"
Play it for my flat-chested junkie whore
Im staying up late, Im making amends
While we smile, all heaven descends
If love is a sin, then beauty is a crime
All things are beautiful in their time
The black and the white, the yellow and the brown
Its all right there in front of you in Scarlet Town.