J. J. Cale - Downtown la

D^Amowntown L.A. is a d^Gepressing place You^D can see young men with deep lines in the^Amir face Th^Amey could all be something ^Gif somebody cared Bu^Dt nobody knows they're even ^Amdown there

O^Gld woman walking with a s^Amack on her back ^GPicking up the garbage^Am people put out back ^GMen down there trying ^Amto walk the line ^GTrading their soul for ^Da bottle of w^Amine

I^Amn the inner city it ai^Gn't no good It'^Ds a long, long way from H^Amollywood Ba^Amd kind of people got a hold of t^Ghe street The^Dy got something that t^Amhe poor people need

A^Gt two in the morning they^Am bust your head ^GFat chance walking you^Am'll end up dead ^GIt's the law of the ju^Amngle with a gun and a knife ^GIf you stay long enough^D you lose you^Amr life

M^Aman down there he ^Gcouldn't be lying He ^Dwas sleeping in the street and^Am he couldn't keep from crying Sa^Amid he'd been there for twenty on^Ge years Thr^Dough the bars and the brawls and the ^Amblues and the tears

P^Grop up the front ^Amthe back falls down ^GAll around the canyons^Am of L.A. town ^GWhen he asked me for a^Am dollar I looked him in his face ^GDowntown L.A. is a depr^Dessing place ^Am