Dave Van Ronk — Zen Koans Gonna Rise Again

In the alleys and doorways of old Greenwich Village You can see the lames walking the streets up and down From your tenement top you can drop down your garbage And a Clyde or a cop will fall dead to the ground You'll see bodies a-burning and faces on fire Wearing death on their backs like a John wears a coat For this is Satori, the end of desire To O.D. in the gutter with a cure in your throat Some are in slams and some are still scuffling With nothing to keep but a twenty-cent jones Jiving and boosting while their chicks are out hustling While the ache in their veins whispers death to their bones In the alleys and doorways of old Greenwich Village You can see the lames walking the streets up and down From your tenement top you can drop down your garbage And a Clyde or a cop will fall dead to the ground