Dirty Old Town

David Byrne

Well, there are 16 people in Danny's apartment

16 people are living in there

Remember the days of rent control

Grandpa remembers rock and roll



These days won't last forever

These days won't last for long

You know, somebody somewhere owes us a favor

That's how things really get done

In this World of Opportunities, it's a Land of Possibilities



We wanna live in a dirty old town

Building it up, tearing us down

With our head in the clouds and our feet on the ground

We wanna live ? dirty old town



Now when the ladies come from Kansas

They wear their traditional colors

Today the fabrics are ragged and torn

The clothes on their backs is all that they own

They say, "Don't draw attention to yourself

They'll tear you apart for a couple a bucks

Keep your head down and keep your nose clean

'Cause people who're scared do dangerous things"



These days can't last forever

These days can't last for long

You know someday things will get better

Somehow things will get done

It's a World of Possibilities,

It's a Land of Opportunities



We wanna live in a dirty old town

Building it up, tearing us down

Head in the clouds and our feet on the ground

We wanna live ? dirty old town



These days shoes are worn only on special occasions

Battles are fought for fam'ly and nations

Maybe you pray, but God isn't home

And there's no guarantee that justice be done



We wanna live in a dirty old town

Building it up, tearing us down

Head in the clouds and our feet on the ground

We wanna live ? dirty old town