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