Downtown
Greg Brown Lyrics

Well, yes, I could stay home, read a book or two,
I have other options to being productive, but I am choosing not to be tonight.

Try to get a little bit better at some of these bad things I do.
There are some things that I do that would be considered detrimental to me and I could try to work on them.

But the night it is young; so am I for a while,
I am young and so is the night, there is no reason to stay at home and miss anything.

So I put on my hat and coat and pants and my boots and smile.
I am dressing to impress myself and setting expectations high for the night ahead.

[Chorus]
The singer is excited to head downtown and experience the city's nightlife.

Well, some people tell me that they love the mountains best,
People prefer different things, but I prefer the city atmosphere.

Far as I can see it's just one big wilderness.
The singer views the mountains as one big wilderness, there is nothing exciting or different in nature that excites him.

I've seen squirrels writin' tickets, dolphins drivin' cars,
The singer's imagination is running wild with bizarre ideas, anything can happen in the city.

Blowfish blowin' tubas, grizzly bears in the bars.
The city has a lot of unique and strange characters that make it an exciting place to be.

Well now if you've ever checked it out, you know just what I mean,
If you've experienced the city, then you know how different and surreal it can be at times.

There's always a few surprises in that same old scene.
The city is constantly changing and evolving, so there's always something new to discover even in familiar places.

You might meet some fella who can really blow the horn,
There are talented and unique individuals in the city whose skills and talents you would never have seen and experienced otherwise.

Make you glad for a change you done got born.
Experiencing the city's wonders and surprises can make you feel happy and alive.

Yes, I might get lucky, run into my friend, Jane,
The singer is hopeful for the possibility of meeting up with his friend Jane in the city.

Walk to her apartment in the shiny city rain.
Together, they would enjoy a walk in the rain down the city streets.

Put on a little record; I get so long and tall,
Listening to music with Jane would be something that would make him feel alive and more connected to her.

I wish I was the wallpaper; Jane could be the wall.
The singer wants to be so close to Jane that even the walls will disappear, he wants to be a part of her world.

Yeah and when those lights come up, so soon, so soon,
The night is fleeting and the dawn is near, and it's a reminder of how short life really is.

We might sit and play some music in that trashed-out livin' room.
Even in a trashed-out living room, the singer would enjoy playing music and having fun with Jane until the morning comes.

Keep playin' that music 'til the dawn's early light,
They can lose track of time and play all night long until the sun comes up.

Laugh like no one's business,
The singer and Jane can enjoy each other's company and have a good time together.

Man ain't that the life.
It's moments like these that make the singer feel alive and happy.

Have you ever known the magic hour just before the dawn?
The singer is reminiscing of a special moment when he was in love.

When the mornin' is still sleeping, but the night is not yet gone.
The world is quiet and it's a moment of peace and tranquility that will be remembered.

And you're walkin' home from some little joint with someone you love,
The singer is walking home with someone he loves after spending a special night out.

With the moon and stars and the bells and birds all ringin' up above.
The singer is appreciating the beauty of the world even during the darkest hours of the night.