Skid Row
Michelle Weeks Tisha Campbell Tichina Arnold Ellen Greene & Rick Moranis Lyrics
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and you start up-town.
You put in your eight hours
for the powers
that have always been.
(Sing it child)
'Til it's five-pm...
"Then you go..."
Where the folks are broke. You go
Downtown
Where your life's a joke. You go
Downtown
Where you buy a token. You go...
Home to Skid Row.
Home to Skid Row.
"Yes you go..."
Downtown
Where the cabs don't stop.
Downtown
Where the food is slop.
Downtown
Where the hop-heads flop in the snow...
Down on Skid Row.
Uptown you cater to a million jerks.
Uptown you're messengers and mailroom clerks.
Eating all your lunches at the hot-dog carts.
The bosses take your money and they break your hearts.
Uptown you cater to a million whores.
You disinfect terrazzo on their bathroom floors.
The jobs are really menial you make no bread
And then at five-o'clock you head
By subway
"That's when you go..."
(Downtown)
Where the guys are drips.
(Downtown)
Where they rip your slips.
(Downtown)
Where relationships are no go.
Down on Skid Row.
Down on Skid Row
Down on Skid Row
Down on Skid Row
Poor, all my life I've always been poor.
I keep askin' 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
(Downtown)
That's your home address, you live
(Downtown)
When your life's a mess, you live
(Downtown)
Where depression's just status quo.
(Down on Skid Row.)
Someone show me a way to get outta here.
'Cause I constantly pray I'll get outta here.
Please won't somebody say I'll get outta here.
Someone gimmie my shot, or I'll rot here!
(Downtown)
Show me how and I will, I'll get outta here.
(There's no rules for us)
(Downtown)
I'll start climbin' up hill and get outta here.
('Cause it's dangerous)
(Downtown)
Someone tell me I still could get outta here.
(Where there rainbow just doesn't show)
Someone tell lady luck that I'm stuck here!
(When you get...)
(Downtown)
Gee it sure would be swell to get outta here.
Bid the gutter farewell and get outta here.
I'd move heaven and hell to get outta Skid.
I'd do I don't know what to get outta Skid.
But a hell of a lot to get outta Skid.
People tell me there's not a way outta Skid.
But believe me I gotta get outta Skid
Row!
The song "Skid Row" is a poignant commentary on the struggles of poverty and the daily grind of working-class life. The opening lines describe the start of a mundane workday, where the singer heads "up-town" to cater to the "million jerks" of corporate life. They work for "the powers that have always been" until 5 p.m. when they head "downtown" - an impoverished area where "the folks are broke" and "your life's a joke." The contrast between the two worlds highlights the vast disparity between the wealthy and the poor.
The chorus focuses on the hopelessness of living in Skid Row, where life is a struggle and relationships are non-existent. The singer asks for someone to show them a way out, praying for a chance to leave the life of poverty behind. The song ends on a desperate plea for escape, with the singer willing to do "a hell of a lot" to leave Skid Row.
Overall, the song highlights the harsh reality of poverty and the struggle to break free from its constraints. It also sheds light on the stark differences between classes and how difficult it can be for those in poverty to escape its confines.
Line by Line Meaning
Alarm goes off at seven
The day starts early with an alarm
and you start up-town.
The day starts with work uptown
You put in your eight hours
Spending eight hours working
for the powers
Working for those who hold power over you
that have always been.
Those in power have always had authority
(Sing it child)
Encouragement to sing
'Til it's five-pm...
Working until the end of the day
"Then you go..."
After work, you proceed to...
Downtown
The downtown area of the city
Where the folks are broke. You go
The economically deprived people live there
Downtown
The downtown area of the city
Where your life's a joke. You go
Life in that area is not taken seriously
Downtown
The downtown area of the city
Where you buy a token. You go...
To travel, you buy a token
Home to Skid Row.
Returning to Skid Row, also known as home
Home to Skid Row.
Returning to Skid Row, also known as home
"Yes you go..."
Confirming that you proceed to...
Downtown
The downtown area of the city
Where the cabs don't stop.
In the area, taxis don't stop
Downtown
The downtown area of the city
Where the food is slop.
The quality of food is low
Downtown
The downtown area of the city
Where the hop-heads flop in the snow...
Drug addicts are displaced in the area
Down on Skid Row.
Living on Skid Row
Uptown you cater to a million jerks.
Working uptown involves serving unpleasant people
Uptown you're messengers and mailroom clerks.
Uptown work includes being a messenger or mailroom clerk
Eating all your lunches at the hot-dog carts.
Lunch is usually a hot dog from a street vendor
The bosses take your money and they break your hearts.
Employers take advantage of and treat employees poorly
Uptown you cater to a million whores.
Working uptown involves serving a lot of sex workers
You disinfect terrazzo on their bathroom floors.
Cleaning sex workers' bathrooms is one job
The jobs are really menial you make no bread
The work is tedious with low pay
And then at five-o'clock you head
After work, it's time to travel
By subway
Taking the subway
"That's when you go..."
When traveling, you proceed to...
(Downtown)
In the downtown area of the city
Where the guys are drips.
Men in the area are unimpressive
(Downtown)
In the downtown area of the city
Where they rip your slips.
People in the area regularly take advantage of you
(Downtown)
In the downtown area of the city
Where relationships are no go.
Finding a fulfilling relationship is unlikely in the area
Down on Skid Row.
Living on Skid Row
Down on Skid Row
Living on Skid Row
Down on Skid Row
Living on Skid Row
Down on Skid Row
Living on Skid Row
Poor, all my life I've always been poor.
I've never had much money
I keep askin' God what I'm for.
Asking why I am here
And he tells me, "Gee, I'm not sure."
God is uncertain of the answer
"Sweep that floor, kid!"
Being told to sweep the floor
Oh! I started life as an orphan,
Growing up as an orphan
A child of the street, here on Skid Row!
A child born into poverty on Skid Row
He took me in gave me shelter
Someone offered a home and protection
A bed, crust of bread and a job.
Providing basic needs and employment
Treats me like dirt, calls me a slob,
Treated poorly and called unpleasant names
Which I am...
Acknowledging negative behavior
So I live
Existing in this state
(Downtown)
In the downtown area of the city
That's your home address, you live
Living in the downtown area
(Downtown)
In the downtown area of the city
When your life's a mess, you live
Living in the area when life is in disarray
(Downtown)
In the downtown area of the city
Where depression's just status quo.
Depression is the norm in the area
(Down on Skid Row.)
Continuing to live on Skid Row
Someone show me a way to get outta here.
Asking for guidance on how to escape poverty
'Cause I constantly pray I'll get outta here.
Desperately hoping for a way out
Please won't somebody say I'll get outta here.
Need reassurance and encouragement that change is possible
Someone gimmie my shot, or I'll rot here!
Requesting an opportunity to escape, or risk remaining stuck
(Downtown)
In the downtown area of the city
Show me how and I will, I'll get outta here.
Willing to work hard for the opportunity to leave
(There's no rules for us)
The rules are not in favor of those in poverty
(Downtown)
In the downtown area of the city
I'll start climbin' up hill and get outta here.
Working hard to climb out of poverty
('Cause it's dangerous)
Acknowledging the risk involved in trying to leave
(Downtown)
In the downtown area of the city
Someone tell me I still could get outta here.
Seeking hope and possibility in leaving
(Where there rainbow just doesn't show)
The area is devoid of hope and opportunity
Someone tell lady luck that I'm stuck here!
Asking for some luck to escape the area
(When you get...)
When you finally escape...
(Downtown)
From the downtown area of the city
Gee it sure would be swell to get outta here.
Expressing the desire to leave
Bid the gutter farewell and get outta here.
Saying goodbye to poverty and leaving
I'd move heaven and hell to get outta Skid.
Willing to do almost anything to escape
I'd do I don't know what to get outta Skid.
Willing to go to the ends of the earth to leave
But a hell of a lot to get outta Skid.
It takes a lot of effort to escape poverty
People tell me there's not a way outta Skid.
Others discourage attempts to escape poverty
But believe me I gotta get outta Skid Row!
Determined to leave Skid Row
Contributed by Taylor S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.