The West End - John Mellencamp

Well, the West End now, the West End then

Went by the other day just to see my friend

His house was dark, his socks were thin

I told him, «Let's get out of West End»

For my whole life I’ve been down in the West End

It sure has changed here since I was a kid

It’s worse now, look what progress did

Someone lined the packers out, I know who that is

Well, my old man slaved down here in the West End

He thought the future was bright, way back then

But it beat him down till he had nothing to give

It broke his back, took away his will to live

Now me, I don’t think much of the West End

I don’t wanna end up like the old man did

'Cause I got dreams and they are bigger than this

As far as I’m concerned you can keep the West End

Well, I guess down here in the West End

Broken promises, now and then

It’s not even fair to think they would

'Cause the West End now ain’t no damn good

Out there somewhere you know there’s gotta be a place

Where man can live with a smile on his face

And everyday something new begins

But it ain’t down here at the West End

Someday down here in the West End

No one will remember how the whole place began