[Crystal]

Alarm goes off at seven

and you start uptown.

You put in your eight hours

for the powers that have always been.



[Ronnette]

Sing it, child.



[Crystal]

Til it's five p.m.



[Wino #1]

Then you go



[Girls]

Downtown

Where the folks are broke

You go

Downtown

Where your life's a joke

You go

Downtown

When you buy your token, you go-

Home to Skid Row!



Home to Skid Row!



[Wino #1]

Yes, you go



[All]

Downtown



[Crystal]

Where the cabs don't stop.

[All]

Downtown

[Mushnik]

Where the food is slop.

[All]

Downtown

Where the hop-heads flop in the snow!

Down on Skid Row!



[Girls]

Uptown you cater to a million jerks

Uptown your messengers and mailroom clerks

Eatin' all your lunches at the hot-dog carts

The bosses take your money

And they break your hearts



And uptown you cater to a million whores

You disinfect terrazzo on their bathroom floors

Jobs are really meanial, You'll make no bread

And then at five o'clock you head 



[Wino #1]

By subway



[All]

Downtown

[Audrey]

Where the guys are drips.

[All]

Downtown

[Audrey]

Where they rip your slips.

Downtown

Where relationships are no-go.



[All]

Down on Skid Row!



[Seymour]

Poor!

All my life, I've always been poor!

I keep asking God what I'm for,

And he tells me,

"Gee, I'm not sure...

Sweep that floor, kid"

Oh!

I started life as an orphan,

A child of the street, here on Skid Row!

He took me in, gave me shelter,

A bed, crust of bread, and a job-

Treats me like dirt,

Calls me a slob,

Which I am!

So I live...



[Others]

Downtown

[Seymour]

That's your home address, ya live

[Others]

Downtown

[Seymour]

When your life's a mess, ya live

[Others]

Downtown

[Seymour]

Where depression's jes' status quo!



[Others]

Down on Skid Row!



[Seymour]

Someone show me a way to get outa here

Cause I constantly pray I'll get outa here

Please won't somebody say I'll get outa here

Someone gimme my shot or I'll rot here!



{lyrics A and B are sung at the same time, C and D will be sung at the same time}



[Seymour](A)                              [Others] (B)

Show me how and I will,               Downtown

I'll get outa here                          There's no rules for us,

I'll start climbin' up hill                  Downtown-

and get outa here                        Cause it's dangerous

Someone tell me I still                  Downtown

could get outa here                      Where the rainbow's just

Someone tell lady luck                 A no-show!

that I'm stuck here                      When you live...



[Seymour & Audrey] (C)              [Others](D)

Gee, it sure would                        Downtown

be swell                                      Where the sun don't 

To get outa here                          shine!

Bid the gutter fare-                      Downtown

well                                            Past the bottom 

and get outa here                          line

I'd move heaven and                   Downtown

hell                                             Go ask any whino,

to get outa Skid                           He'll know    

I'd do I-dunno-what                    

to get outa Skid,

But a hell of a lot                         Downtown

to get outa Skid,

People tell me                             Downtown

theres 

not a way outa Skid

But believe me I                          Downtown

gotta get outa...



[All]

Skid Row!