Song Description

A song about growing up and surviving on the city streets in the 50's

Lyrics

monologue "YOU KNOW IT'S COMPLICATED... BUT I WAS KINDA HALF RAISED BY MY GRANDMA. LIVED ON KELLY STREET. SHE HAD THIS WONDERFUL HOUSE
RIGHT THERE IN THE DOCKS AREA OF THE CITY. IT WAS JUST A COUPLA DOORS UP FROM THE FAMOUS KELLY STEPS. THE STORIES FROM THE STEPS HAVE PASSED INTO THE REALM OF URBAN MYTH NOW, BUT I WAS THERE AND LET
ME TELL YA..... MOST OF IT WAS TRUE"

GREW UP ON THE PAVEMENT DOWN ON KELLY STREET
WEARING HAND ME DOWN BERMUDAS DIRTY SANDSHOES ON MY FEET
PLAYING SOLDIERS IN THE BATTERY PARK AND CLIMBING ON THE CLIFFS
AND THE STEPS UP TO MY GRANNY'S HOUSING WINOS, PUNKS AND STIFFS

THE STREET WAS FULL OF HOOKERS BUT THE LADIES THEY WERE FINE
WON'T YOU STEP INTO MY BOUDOIR WON'T YOU TAKE A GLASS OF WINE
AND THE STREET WAS LIKE A CIRCUS 'TRACTING EVERY KINDA FREAK
BUT THEY GAVE ME MILK AND BISCUITS NEARLY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

BY THE TIME THAT I WAS NINE I'D KINDA FIGURED OUT THE SCORE
I WAS WORKING IN A BARBER SWEEPING HAIR UP OFF THE FLOOR
SELLING LUCKY STRIKES AND FILTER KINGS TO GRIFTERS ON THE DOCKS
AND ME AND PADDY F. WOULD HIDE OUR ZIPPOS IN OUR SOX

I WAS DANCING WITH THE DEVIL AND THE DEVIL'S KEEPING SCORE
BUT THE WHOLE WORLD STARTED ON THE STEPS OUTSIDE MY GRANDMAS DOOR

THE OLD LADY MADE ME PROMISE TO AVOID SAINT DAVID'S PARK
WHERE THE WINOS USED TO CONGREGATE AND SETTLE AFTER DARK
BUT ME AND PADDY F. WOULD STIR 'EM UP AND STEAL THEIR BOOZE
YOU HIT 'EM HARD AND HIT 'EM FAST YOU'D RARELY EVER LOSE

THEY SHIPPED ME OFF TO BOARDING SCHOOL BUT I MADE IT BACK ALIVE
FOUR YEARS FIGHTIN FOR MY FREEDOM FOUR YEARS FIGHTING TO SURVIVE
WITH TOP CAT TERRY C. WE STOOD OUR GROUND AND MADE A STAND
WHILE THE MESSENGERS OF GOD WERE FIRE AND BRIMSTONE TO A MAN

AT GRANNY'S BACK ON KELLY STREET NOTHING REALLY EVER CHANGED
THE STREET WAS STILL A CIRCUS AND THE PLAYERS STILL THE SAME
BUT NOW THAT I WAS OLDER THOSE PAINTED LADIES WEREN'T SO NICE
YOU CAN STILL COME IN FOR BISCUITS BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE

HA HA... DAMN BUT THAT'S THE UNIVERSITY OF LIFE RIGHT THERE!
BY THE TIME I WAS TWELVE I WAS SELLING BOOZE, RUNNING BETS AT THE TRACK AND PLAYING WASHBOARD IN A JUG BAND

I COULD LAY IN BED ON SUNDAY HEAR THE CHURCH BELLS CROSS THE BAY
THEN CLIMB UP ON THE ROOF AND WATCH THE FREIGHTERS MAKING WAY
ON THAT ONE DAY OF THE WEEK I'D SETTLE BACK AND REST MY FEET
AND MAKE MY PLANS FOR MONDAY OUT ON KELLY STREET