Elm City Ballads

4am, driving through the streets of New Haven again Baby faced crack corner kids working graveyard shifts With the diner waitresses, everybody trying to break bread I'm every lung that's breathing in this filthy city waste I'm trick turning streetwalker Mary full of grace Undocumented worker, wage slave, I'm needle pierced vein I am black rose on grandmother's grave We'll find a way, the old man said an AA They told us faith in God will take the pain away But God is nowhere to be found in this place We're only half awake, waiting to be served Slop and corn cake by inmates Love me city till I'm gray Elm City love me safe Love me city till I'm gray Love me till I am erased