Thirty Thousand Men

Steve Forbert

VERSE
Thirty thousand men on the Bowery
Thirty thousand men on the street
Can't help but roam when you ain't got no home
Beggin' handouts for something to eat
Beggin' handouts for something to eat

VERSE
Thirty thousand men on the sidewalk
Thirty thousand men in the town
Nowhere to go when the wind starts to blow
Lookin' 'round for some place to lay down
Lookin' 'round for some place to lay down

VERSE
Thirty thousand men tired and dirty
Thirty thousand men to be fed
Bussed out to Queens for a chance to get clean
And a shot at some sleep in a bed
And a shot at some sleep in a bed

VERSE
Thirty thousand men in the arm'ries
Thirty thousand men down the block
Neighbors all shout "we don't want 'em about"
"Bus 'em back in the morning and stop"
"Bus 'em back in the morning and stop"

VERSE
Thirty thousand men of depression
Thirty thousand men 'neath a cloud
Jobs getting scarce and they're cutting welfares
And we might find ourselves in the crowd
And we might find ourselves in the crowd

VERSE
Thirty thousand men in the city
Thirty thousand men killin' time
Helpless and cold, some are young, some are old
Shabby clothes and some bottles of wine
Shabby clothes and some bottles of wine