A TENEMENT
A DIRTY STREET
WALKED AND WORN
BY SHOELESS FEET
INSIDE IT'S LONG
AND SO COMPLETE
WATCHED BY A
SHIVERING SUN
OLD EYES IN A
SMALL CHILD'S FACE
WATCHING AS THE
SHADOWS RACE
THROUGH WALLS
AND CRACKS AND
LEAVE NO TRACE
AND DAYLIGHT'S
BRIGHTNESS SHUNS
THE DAYS OF
PEARLY SPENCER
OH-HO
THE RACE
IS ALMOST RUN
NOSE PRESSED
HARD ON
FROSTED GLASS
GAZING AS
THE SWOLLEN MASS
ON CONCRETE FIELDS
WHERE GROWS
NO GRASS
STUMBLES
BLINDLY ON
IRON TREES
SMOTHER THE AIR
BUT WITHERING
THEY STAND AND
STARE
THROUGH EYES
THAT NEITHER KNOW
NOR CARE WHERE
THE GRASS HAS GONE
THE DAYS OF
PEARLY SPENCER
OH-HO
THE RACE
IS ALMOST RUN
PEARLY WHERE'S
YOUR MILK WHITE SKIN
WHAT'S THAT STUBBLE
ON YOUR CHIN
IT'S BURIED IN
THE ROT GUT GIN
YOU PLAYED AND
LOST NOT WON
YOU PLAYED A HOUSE
THAT CAN'T BE BEAT
NOW LOOK YOUR HEAD'S
BOWED IN DEFEAT
YOU WALKED TOO
FAR ALONG THE
STREET WHERE ONLY
RATS CAN RUN
THE DAYS OF
PEARLY SPENCER
OH-HO
THE RACE
IS ALMOST RUN
THE DAYS OF
PEARLY SPENCER
OH-HO
THE RACE
IS ALMOST RUN
THE RACE IS
ALMOST RUN
14 BAR
INSTRUMENTAL
BREAK
A TENEMENT
A DIRTY STREET
REMEMBER WORN AND
SHOELESS FEET
REMEMBER HOW
YOU STOOD TO BEAT
THE WAY YOUR LIFE
HAD GONE
SO PEARLY DON'T
YOU SHED MORE TEARS
FOR THOSE BEST
FORGOTTEN YEARS
THOSE TENEMENTS
ARE MEMORIES
OF WHERE YOU'VE
RISEN FROM
THE DAYS OF
PEARLY SPENCER
OH-HO
THE RACE
IS ALMOST RUN