The system is breaking down
Wanted to sell those final shares
But the devil's got 'em now
I called when I was halfway out of town
And I did the calculations, no one wins this one
I thought that this old house would fix itself
But it just sank a foot in the ground
And the bills went the other way
Hard times in the city, babe
It's harder than you think
Trying to parlay every deal
Be every missing link
Peter to pay Paul, that old routine
I had no reservations, just a nuisance to the world
I thought this noble work would save this town
But it just sends a chill through me now
Us frauds have hell to pay
Hard times in the city, babe
Too long, too long, too long
Baby I'm loaded, afraid as sin
Too long, too long, too long
To have this debate again
I mean it like a heart attack, baby
I thought that this old house would wear us out
But somehow we're sticking around
Lost in this dark parade
Hard times in the city, babe