Janis Ian — On the Dark Side of Town

[Verse 1] I wound up talking with your wife She says you've got another life Thought you'd finally settled down But you keep on going 'round To the dark side of town [Verse 2] She says you promise not to stray Then you make your getaway And she prays for it to pass And you say that it won't last Because you're going nowhere fast [Chorus] On the dark side of town, new lovers meet At the old lost and found on the edge of the street And the noon shadows hide from the fire outside On the dark side of town, where some woman waits To worship your crown, to burn at your stake I lay myself down on the dark sidе of town [Verse 3] She says you fill her with desirе But when you want her, you're a liar She can taste it on your breath Cutting through the cigarette She can smell it on your sweat [Verse 4] You've been taking off your ring Women see these little things You may think it does not show But it shows how far you'll go To feed the fire down below [Chorus] On the dark side of town, where new lovers meet At the old lost and found on the edge of the street And the noon shadows hide from the fire outside On the dark side of town, where some woman waits To worship your crown, to burn at your stake I lay myself down on the dark side of town [Bridge] I said—I know that woman well And I will see her soul in hell Before I let her carry on until your hope is gone You should have seen her smile She'd known it all the while She said—thank you for me and my child Thank you for me and my child [Chorus] On the dark side of town, where we used to meet At the old lost and found on the edge of the street And the noon shadows hide from the fire outside On the dark side of town, where some woman waits To worship your crown, to burn at your stake I lay myself down on the dark side of town