Old Downtown

I went for a walk in my old downtown To the top of the hill and I turned around Train yard's not what it used to be The station's still standing by the factories Wendell's serving up the meat and three The tower lights read L & C Stood by the stone for the president Saw the bullet holes where the armies met Walked for a while with the suffragettes You know mama's still growing those roses yet Heard the echo of Bryan in the old court case And I thought as I walked about love and hate Passed a soldier boy with a gun of bronze Made a film of his life said he had a cause Didn't want to kill, didn't want to die Felt the lightening flash took it as a sign That God is love and Jesus saves And our soldier does participate Alvin came to New York with his fortune made And he walked for a mile in the ticker tape The mayor smiled while Alvin prayed "Sir, I'd like to ride that subway train" Shimmers on film like a summer day Silver black and white, watch it fade away I left this place at a tender age In the family book you know I turned the page Never could describe all the energy Wakes me up at night with the memory Mama don't you call me I'm good as gone You know your daughter loves you but she heard this song Church bells ringing in the old downtowns Ancient sadness tumbles down The heavy veil of tragedy Makes it hard to breathe, hard to see You can trace these scars along the ground When you're out for a walk in your old downtown I went for a walk in my old downtown