Streets: A Rock Opera

As darkness falls so hard
The children play

Somewhere
Out there
Alone and out of place
Streets of illusion
Sooth the shattered fate

I've been a runner
I've been a sinner
I've been inside my head
I sit here staring
Never quite caring
And this is where it has led

These streets
Glitter in the dark
Don't sleep
Red eyes sunken and stark
Dream deep
In her arms where you are safe
These streets
Never sleep still never wake

Somewhere out there
Gardens bloom and grow
Children awaken
To a world they know

Somewhere the sun shines
Somewhere the light's kind
Somewhere they seek the day

Somewhere there's no scene
Somewhere the air's clean
But somewhere is so far away

These streets
Glitter in the dark
Don't sleep
Red eyes sunken and stark
Dream deep
In her arms where you are safe
These streets
Never sleep still never wake

Welcome children
From the other side
In the darkness
Your eyes are opened wide

Here there are answers
On the edge dancers
Here the night hides our sins
And if you listen
While the streets glisten
Here's where our story begins

These streets
Glitter in the dark
Don't sleep
Red eyes sunken and stark
Dream deep
In her arms where you are safe
These streets
Never sleep still never wake

Jesus was a talker
Out of place New Yorker
Hung out on the boulevard
Sellin' nickel candies
Saving all his quarters
Bought himself a cheap guitar
Started playin' bars
The kids came in their cars
You'd hear them shouting at the stage

(2x) Jesus saves
Jesus started changin'
Things got really strange
He saw his tee shirts everywhere
Started missing shows
The band came down to blows
But Jesus he no longer cared

Things got out of hand
And so he quit the band
But still the critics they would rave

Jesus saves, Jesus saves
Hear him cut through the night
On your late night radio waves
So the dice were cast
Today became the past
And Jesus he just disappeared
Headed for New York
Or so his label thought
And there he gave away the years

Last seen drinking wine
Beneath a flashing sign
Promising salvation to strays

(2x) Jesus saves
Hear Him cut through the night
On your late night radio waves

Nighttime again
Seems I'm my only friend
Wander the streets all alone
The lost in search of his own

Once again I've played the clown
Used my friends to let him down
Walk the streets just staring out
'Cause in the dark the strange come out
Time and time and time again
I'm just looking for a friend
But no one seems to be around
Except this monkey that I've found
Still he is my only friend
And tonight he grins again

Something cold as pain
Burning inside my veins
I walk away
A shadow of Dorian Gray

Once again I've played the clown

Used my friends to let them down
Walk the streets just staring out
'Cause in the dark the strange come out

Time and time and time again
I'm just looking for a friend
But no one seems to be around
Except this monkey that I've found
Still he is my only friend
And tonight he grins again

Who's this before me
Dressed in rags soaked in gin
A sign or a warning
Am I now where he's been

Am I losing my way
This strange insanity
An illusion away
Is this reality
Could that be me

Wake every morning
I don't know where I've been
All my excuses
Showing strain wearing thin
Am I losing my way
This strange insanity
An illusion away
Is this reality

Could that be me

Another day
Another night
Another drink another fight
Somehow it's all the same
And so I'm staring in my gin
Never knowing if I'll win
And still I play the game

Look to the future
With the eyes of the blind
Can't see much further
Than this haze
In my mind

Am I losing my way
This strange insanity
An illusion away
Is this reality

Could that be me

Do you remember
Look at me
And all the things we'd said we'd be
We'd beat the house
We'd push the odds
We'd take it all we had the cards

With years to burn
And years to trash
Living lies based on flash
But somehow reaching for the stars
I think we went a bit too far

(2x) Got to get back
I never meant to take it this far

When everything you touch turns gold
Can weigh you down
Can make you old
When metal doesn't ring the same
Reaction from inside your brain
And all those years we offered up
To gods who couldn't get enough
And though we still stay up all night
The mornings aren't quite as bright
(2x) Got to get back
I never meant to take it this far

And all those things
We thought we'd learned
As we watched our bridges burn
While standing in the afterglow
I guess we gave them quite a show

When John Wayne
Caught the last train out
And Spock and Kirk have had enough
And no one's left to beam me up
Got to get back, got to get back
I never meant to take it this far

So D.T. returned
To the ground he had burned in his past
And the press they all laughed
And they said it never lasts
But the crowds they came in
Just to see a man back from the dead
As he stood on the stage
The world echoed in his head
When you're skating on ice
Too thin to take it
You got to move fast or else you break it
So throw back your hair and feel the wind rush by

So people take care
When you're chasing a dream in the night
That the walls of the past
Don't interrupt your flight
Never stop never turn
Never look never learn
So they say
But somewhere in time we all pay
For yesterday

When you're skating on ice
Too thin to take it
You got to move fast or else you break it
So throw back your hair
And feel the wind rush by
And you're alive

Hey D.T. what you been up to
It's been a real long time
And your bill's past due
Stop right there
Don't you look away
'Cause you've had your fun
Now it's time to pay

Now you know that I've been waiting
And I'm really very patient
But you've really pushed me way too far
'Cause you owe me thirty thousand
And with interest it's been growing
While you've hidden in these bars

Now I would have said just duck it
But then money by the bucket
I hear you're raking in
So please forgive my diction
And prepare for crucifixion
While I write your next of kin

So please don't turn away
You borrowed now you pay
Seems your mind's
Gone a bit off track
Time to readjust
'Cause Sammy's back

So Sammy started dealing
and D.T. started reeling
And they tumbled to the floor
The furniture was flying
And D.T. thought of dying
When Tex walked through the door

Now Tex he wasn't waiting
And without hesitating
Grabbed Sammy by the throat
And Sammy started shakin'
A frightened slab of bacon
Hanging like a coat

Seemed things were going right
Till Sammy pulled a knife sayin'
"If you want to cut the cards
Sammy's gonna up the odds"

Then everything was quiet
A street after the riot
And the silence hung like death
And Tex he wasn't breathing
His body lay there bleeding
A knife inside his chest

When D.T. saw his friend there
He quickly lost his terror
As something tore inside
His face was clenched in hatred
As his mind formulated
How this pimp would die
Sammy saw it in his eyes
And thought retreat would be wise
Saying "Seems I've stayed
A bit too long
So I'll take my things
And Sammy's gone"

Hey there Lord it's me
I wondered if you're free
Or not asleep
This just won't keep
It seems I just don't see
Why all the things we asked
Or prayed would come to pass
Have gone unheard
Like silent words
That slip into the past
For Lord they're not schemes
Can't you tell dreams
Why do you
Let them slip by
Never even tried

It isn't you don't hear
There's far too many tears
Or can't you feel
Are we unreal
To one who knows no peers

You say we must pay dues
But still I am confused
I need to walk
And with you talk
Instead of to statues

For Lord they're not schemes
Can't you tell dreams
Why do you
Let them slip by
Never even tried

You take all the fame
But who'll accept the blame
For all the hurts
Down here on earth
Unnecessary pain

For surely you must care
Or are you only air
Built in our minds
When we're in binds
And never really there
And can we be tired of you
Is that something that we're allowed to do
For even the blind change their view
And it's time we tried something new

And so I pled my case
I'll now pull my escape
Didn't mean to doubt
What it's about
Seems I forgot my place
But if you find the time
Please change the story line
Or give a call
Explain it all
I'll even leave the dime

If I closed my eyes
Would it all subside
To an echo in the night
Of a distant fading light
Then a stranger's silhouette
A burning cigarette
And somewhere in the haze
A passage through the maze

And can you hear me now
Or are there just too many doors
Between then and now
For me to ever reach on through
And pull you back somehow
But that can't happen anymore
Still still in the night
I think I hear you calling

I have walked this stage
As the music played
They knew every word
But they never heard
For they never changed
It's all very strange
As I'm standing here
Contemplating years

And can you hear me now
Or are there just too many doors
Between then and now
For me to ever reach on through
And pull you back somehow
But that don't happen anymore
Still in the dark
I'd swear I hear you calling

I've been here since eighty-one
That's a long time
And I've seen
All there is here to see

Had a space on Astor place
Had it all once
Now these streets
Are my reality

You see
New York City
Don't mean nothing
Just a good place when you're running
Lights that cut so bright they make you bleed

Neon children live their lives there
Mad magicians tinsel nightmares
Still you know I'm never gonna leave

Never sleep alone on the subways
Never walk alone on the tracks
Never take a ride to the edge of your mind
Not unless you have a ticket back
Don't believe in T.V. preachers
Don't believe in talk show stars
Never follow trends
If they turn on your friends
Just to be sure you know
Who your friends are

And if you're running blind
On a refueled mind
Better watch the time
And careful you don't go too far

Never burn the bridges before you
If you've burned the bridges behind
And never burn the one
That you're walking upon
Or you're sure to hit the water in time

Don't believe in expectations
Don't believe in shooting stars
And if you make a stand
On a dead empty hand
Never let them see your cards

And if you're running blind
On a refueled mind
Better watch the time
And careful you don't go too far

Got a limousine
I wanna show it
Future's looking good
I'll probably blow it
Had some parents once
But you'd never know it
Bank roll oversize
So what if they stole it

But who am I foolin'
I'm the king of the ruins

But I'm doin' well tonight
I got dreams to sell tonight
Got to belong
Try to hang on
Got to belong

Ghost in the ruins
I'm runnin' the street scene
Ghost in the ruins
Burnin' like gasoline
Ghost in the ruins
I'm takin' you in deep
East Side West Side playin' for keeps

See the runaway there on the corner
Just a throw away but somebody's daughter
Had a pretty face so somebody bought her
Sellin' her soul away so put in your order

She knows what she's doin'
She's a ghost in the ruins
She's doin' it well tonight
Got dreams to sell tonight
She wants to belong
Knows what to do
She's got to hang on
Ghost in the ruins
I'm running the street scene
Ghost in the ruins
Burning like gasoline
Ghost in the ruins
I'm takin' you in deep
East Side West Side
Playin' for keeps

(3x) I know
I know you know
(2x) I don't know anymore
I'm tellin' you
I don't know anymore

Somewhere on that long empty road
We all stand lone
Searching for clues
From our different views

In the dark I call out your name
It echoes in vain
Over again
In an empty room

And if I go away
What would still remain of me
The ghost within your eyes
The whisper in your sighs
You see
Believe
And I'm always there
Staring down a long empty hall
Pictures on walls
All with your name
But it's not the same

Searching for a chord I can't hear
Been searching for years
It's somewhere inside
But it's well disguised

And if I go away
What would still remain of me
The ghost within your eyes
The whisper in your sighs
You see
Believe
And I'm always there

Someday I'll take a chance
You find them where you can
They tend to slip away
These doors to yesterday

Forever is a long time they say
Maybe someday I'll meet you there
If you've time to spare

Tell me where I can go
Where they won't know
Who I have been
And we'll start again

And if I go away
What will still remain of me
The ghost within your eyes
The whisper in your sighs
You see
Believe
And I'm always there

Listen to me
From deep down inside
I'm the madness that just
Will not die
With no regrets
Of what I'll do to you

Before the night is over
You'll be crawling to me

You call me when you're weak
For me you'll lie and cheat
You'll never get away
With me you're here to stay
Listen D.T. can't you see
Stay with me and you'll be free
Even as I soothe your soul
I tear you down and make you old
You just keep on coming back
To buy another nickel sack
Twelve o'clock time to greet
Agony and ecstasy
Ecstasy
I'm the cry from within
From when your day begins
You'll follow me like sheep
This shepherd never sleeps

So tell me what's your price
Come skate on my ice
My blades they never rust
I'm asking you to trust

Listen now the time is right
And what a way to start the night
Spend your money endlessly
Another grand insanity
So D.T. here is the plan
I'll make your brain a rubber band
Time to stretch it out and see
Agony and Ecstasy
Ecstasy
Feel my whisper through your haze of pain
Feel the calling of a neon vein
I'm the name upon your soul's marquee
I am agony and ecstasy
And just remember
If you ever need me I'm here

I've been waiting
Long forgotten
Shipwrecked on
A distant shore
Am I drifting
No more wanted
Floating outward
Evermore

All the dreams
That I've harbored
In the labyrinths
Of my soul

Gone forever
Not discarded
Only sleeping
Till they're whole
In the graveyard
Of my heart now
Sleep the years
That I've long sold

For their markers
Is there nothing
Only ghost
I cannot hold

Father hear me
I am tired
Shall I waken
In thy home

Hold me closer
I am trying
Sweet Lord Jesus
Heal my soul

So what can I tell you
If life's the length of this play
Perhaps God gave the answers
To those with nothing to say

But then the years are forgiving
If God's forgiving in kind
Perhaps we'll all find our answers somewhere in time

I've been changing
Redefining
All the things I thought I knew
So long ago
When I was flying
Through those years that seem so far away

In the back of a reason
In the back of my mind
Where I've piled up the seasons
That I've traded for times

I've been grasping at rainbows
Hanging on till the end
But the rain is so real lord
(2x) And the rainbows pretend
I've been changing
Redefining
All the things I thought I knew
So long ago
When I was flying
Through the years
That seem so far away

So after all these one night stands
You've ended up with heart in hand
A child alone
On your own
Retreating
Regretful for the things you're not
And all dreams you haven't got
Without a home
A heart of stone
Lies bleeding

And for all the roads you followed
And for all you did not find
And for all the things
You had to leave behind

I am the way
I am the light
I am the dark inside the night
I hear your hopes
I feel your dreams
And in the dark
I hear your screams
Don't turn away
Just take my hand
And when you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
All I ask of you
Believe
Your childhood eyes were so intense
While bartering your innocence
For bits of string
Grown-up wings
You needed

But when you had to add them up
You found that there were not enough
To get you in
Pay for sins repeated

And for all the years you borrowed
And for all the tears you cried
And for all the fears you had to keep inside

I am the way
I am the light
I am the dark inside the night
I hear your hopes
I feel your dreams
And in the dark
I hear your screams
Don't turn away
Just take my hand
And when you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe