Lyrics
There's a place in the street where the rich people eat
Describing a location in the street where wealthy individuals dine.
There's a snack bar further down the block
Referring to a snack bar located nearby.
There's a gambler's bar full of washed-up stars
Mentioning a bar frequented by gamblers, particularly washed-up stars.
Who still believe they're lucky
Portraying gamblers who still believe in their luck despite setbacks.
There's a theatre on the side where the upper class hide
Highlighting a theater where the upper class conceals themselves.
There's a cinema further down the block
Indicating a cinema further down the street.
And the all-night world of the sidewalk girl
Describing the lively world of sidewalk girls, active around midnight.
Comes alive around twelve o'clock
Emphasizing the vibrancy of the sidewalk scene around midnight.
But try to watch where you go
Advising caution in navigating the street.
For you don't really know who's friend or foe
Warning about the uncertainty of identifying friends or foes in the street.
(Chorus):
Chorus introduction.
In the street, boy! That's where the action is
Highlighting the street as a hub of activity and intrigue.
Where the wheelers and the dealers and the hustlers and the crooks
Listing various personas like wheelers, dealers, hustlers, and crooks in the street.
Get the suckers
Describing the exploitation of unsuspecting individuals by these personas.
In the street, boy! There are places not to miss
Reiterating the importance of specific places in the street.
Like the all-night strip and the moonlight trip for lovers
Mentioning the allure of the all-night strip and moonlight trips for lovers.
1:
Verse 1 introduction.
And the cops, they try to keep the order
Depicting the efforts of the police to maintain order in the street.
Breaking up another row, but they never end somehow
Noting the continuous nature of disturbances despite police interventions.
There's an old cafe where the young people stay
Introducing an old cafe as a gathering spot for young people.
Drinking coffee and chatting through the night
Describing the activity of drinking coffee and chatting through the night in the cafe.
But a scream outside carries far and wide
Pointing out a scream outside, indicating a potentially disturbing event.
As a lady meets a flasher
Depicting a situation where a lady encounters a flasher.
There's a little old man with a newspaper stand
Introducing a little old man with a newspaper stand selling girlie magazines.
Full of second-hand girlie magazines ("Pssst! Buy this!")
Emphasizing the nature of magazines as second-hand and provocative.
And the guy next door, he went nuts in the war
Referring to a neighbor who has mental health issues from war trauma.
Now he fights with the passers-by
Describing the neighbor's tendency to fight with passers-by.
So try to watch where you go
Reiterating the need to be cautious in navigating the street.
For you don't really know who's friend or foe
Repeating the warning about the difficulty in discerning friends from foes.
(Repeat chorus)
Repeating the chorus.
2:
Verse 2 introduction.
And the street is filling up with music from a little blind man
Describing the street filling up with music from a blind man and a nickelodeon.
With a nickelodeon
Detailing the source of music as a little blind man with a nickelodeon.
(Repeat chorus)
Repeating the chorus.
And the cops, they try to keep the order
Reiterating the police attempting to maintain order despite ongoing disturbances.
Breaking up another row, but they never end somehow
Noting the persistent nature of conflicts that the police deal with.
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