Desolation Row lyrics

They're selling postcards of the hanging

Well they're painting the passports brown

And the beauty parlor's filled with sailors

The circus is in town

Oh now look, here comes the blind commissioner

Well they got him in a trance

One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker

The other's in his pants

And the riot squad they're restless

They need somewhere to go

As Lady and I look out tonight

From Desolation Row

Cinderella, she seem so easy

"Well it takes one to know one," she smiles

And she puts her hands in her back pockets

Oh Bette Davis style

And now here comes Romeo, moaning

"You Belong to Me I Believe"

And someone says, "You're in the wrong place, my friend

You better leave"

And then the only sound that's left

After the ambulances go

Is Cinderella sweepin' up

On Desolation Row

Now at midnight all the agents

And superhuman crew

Go out and round up everyone

That knows more than they do

(Knows more than they do)

They're gonna bring 'em to the factory

Where the heart-attack machine

Is strapped across their shoulders

And then the kerosene

Is brought down from the castles

By insurance men who go

Check to see that no one is escaping

To Desolation Row

'Cause right now I can't read too good

Don't send me no letters no

Not unless you're gonna mail them

From Desolation Row