She once stole a paperback

She found a gay lord's drugs

She was too ashamed to buy it

what would the clerk think of her

so she put it in her overcoat

and had a bite to eat

with the whole book in her pocket she couldn't wait to read

she's goin' down she's goin' down town to Perry Street

she's goin' down she's goin' way down to Perry Street



Small room in a tiny town 

she made sure they were asleep

she read about the wicked girls who live on Perry Street

which was down in Greenwich Village

it was 1963

it was more than she imagined it could ever be

she's goin' down she's goin' down town to Perry Street

she's goin' down she's goin' way down to Perry Street



Page 45 she has her first kiss

Page 68 she's almost there

she's almost there



She pulled into the station

With her suitcase in both hands

Her heart pounding louder than the pomington grass band

And the stars are from the ceiling

Shine down as in a dream

She hails her first cab ever she goes down to Perry Street

she's goin' down she's goin' down town to Perry Street

she's goin' down she's goin' way down, yeah

she's goin' down she's goin' way down to Perry Street