Paul Metsa

Second Avenue Sunset

The soldiers of misfortune
walk up Second Avenue
Some march in single file,
some stumble two by two
They wear cardboard tuxedos
and their top hats made of wire
Rub their hands ‘neath a frozen moon round a trash can full of fire

Chorus:
Second Avenue sunset
why does it have to be so hard
Second Avenue sunset
sleep in a city park
They are living in a house of cards
They are living in a house of cards

Raggedy Ann and Andy
on a black top promenade
Like plastic dolls on their wedding cake, they thought they had it made
Small town kids with big town tastes their piggy bank went bust
Now the mission smells like muscatel, the lights still ain’t bright enough

Repeat Chorus

You will walk around them
when they are on their hands and knees  Step over them in alleys
from sea to shining sea
Some know how they got there
but they don’t know what to do
Because there are no second chances
on Second Avenue

Repeat Chorus *
*(alternate chorus)

The wind blew down their house of cards, The wind blew down their house of cards