Take Me From the City

(after J. P.) I’ve been workin’ every morning Since my sixteenth year of life Have to leave my crying babies And my sweet, consoling wife But there is no consolation For a man without his nerve Well I lost it on the Verrazano On a death-defying swerve I saw chickens on a freight truck Smelled road fumes on the wind Heard a beautiful deception Like a song you cannot sing Felt the fingers o’ fear upon me From the cold white gloves of crime Just take me from the city I believe I’ve served my time Now my father was a window man On the skyscraper, so high He’d go raisin’ up that scaffold Never sure if he would die But at least he saw the city From a pure and peaceful height While I’m down here with my janglin’ keys Just a-findin’ my way at night I saw chickens on a freight truck Smelled road fumes on the wind Heard a beautiful deception Like a song you cannot sing Felt the fingers o’ fear upon me From the cold white gloves of crime Just take me from the city I believe I’ve served my time Sure the city is a wondrous place It’s got diversity and more Restaurants on every corner And every brand in its stores But a guy like me don’t consume much Jest a beer and my daily bread Lord, take me back to the country Ere I’m too old to lift my head I saw chickens on a freight truck Smelled road fumes on the wind Heard a beautiful deception Like a song you cannot sing Felt the fingers o’ fear upon me From the cold white gloves of crime Just take me from the city I believe I’ve served my time.