Scarlet Town

In Scarlet Town, where I was born There's ivy leaf and silver thorn The streets have names that you can't pronounce Gold is down to a quarter of an ounce The music starts and the people sway Everybody says, "Are you going my way?" Uncle Tom still workin' for Uncle Bill Scarlet Town is under the hill Scarlet Town in the month of May Sweet William Holme on his deathbed lay Mistress Mary by the side of the bed Kissin' his face, heapin' prayers on his head So brave and true, so gentle is he I'll weep for him as he'd weep for me Little Boy Blue come blow your horn In Scarlet Town, where I was born Scarlet Town, in the hot noon hours There's palm-leaf shadows and scattered flowers Beggars crouching at the gate Help comes, but it comes too late By marble slabs and in fields of stone You make your humble wishes known I touched the garment, but the hem was torn In Scarlet Town, where I was born In Scarlet Town, the end is near The Seven Wonders of the World are here The evil and the good, livin' side by side All human forms seem glorified Put your heart on a platter and see who'll bite See who'll hold you and kiss you good night There's walnut groves and maplewood In Scarlet Town cryin', won't do no good In Scarlet Town, you fight your father's foes Up on the hill, a chilly wind blows You fight 'em on high and you fight 'em down in You fight 'em with whiskey, morphine and gin You've got legs that can drive men mad A lot of things we didn't do, that I wish we had In Scarlet Town, the sky is clear You'll wish to God that you stayed right here Set 'em Joe, play "Walkin' the Floor" Play it for my flat-chested junkie whore I'm staying up late, I'm making amends While we smile, our heaven descends If love is a sin, then beauty is a crime All things are beautiful, in their time The black and the white, the yellow and the brown It's all right there in front of you in Scarlet Town