Dirty City

Album: Nine Lives (2008)
Play Video
  • The gangster came to see by boy
    When I was working nights to pay one more bill
    He promised the kid a sweeter life
    Said, "Gotta understand it's dog eat dog out there"
    Well I looked in his room when I got home
    And underneath the covers found a loaded gun
    He looked at me with empty eyes
    He said, "It's time for me to be moving on"

    [Chorus]
    Dirty city, this is a dirty town
    Where's the pity, I can't move on up to higher ground

    I spoke to my woman the other day
    She said, "I need more cash we can't pay our way"
    She said, "Everything gets really hard
    And I need something sweet, don't you understand?"
    The roar of the train runs by my room
    And on these summer nights I can't sleep anymore
    I walk in the streets to greet the dawn
    Or stay at home all night and stare at the floor

    [Chorus: x2]

    Help me now
    Move on to a higher ground
    Help somehow
    Make a move to a higher ground
    Won't you help somehow
    Make a move to a higher ground
    Won't you help somehow
    I need a little help

    [Chorus] Writer/s: PETER DOUGLAS GODWIN, PETER GODWIN, STEPHEN LAWRENCE WINWOOD, STEVE WINWOOD
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • Greg from Sharon Hill, PaThis is a great song, by two great musicians. Clapton's guitar playing compliments Winwood's voice very well.

    Clapton's guitar playing in the last 2+ minutes of the album version is pure genius
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Song Cities

Song CitiesMusic Quiz

Nirvana, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen are among those who wrote songs with cities that show up in this quiz.

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the Song

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.

Guy Clark

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?