This town is over
It fell into the sea
All the rich folks come
Vacationing
Where the clown′s laughing
At his own joke
At his wounded pecker
And his tortured throat
Haul the ashes, fire the clay
Love grew ten feet tall

In the time you were away
Did you heed the call?
Were you led astray?
Work is work
Or it wouldn't pay
A bitter morning
The sun is dope sick
And all the world is
Tied off for its fix
At the casino

Where all the scene girls
Say they don′t mind
Turnin' tricks
Haul the ashes, fire the clay
Love grew ten feet tall
In the time you were away
Did you heed the call?
Were you led astray?
Work is work
Or it wouldn't pay

Eye of the needle
Wide as the steeple
Cash and heaven
Are inbred friends
Your mother′s suffering
That came to nothing
You never asked to be
Born again
But skin is thin and thought is silken
Reluctant pilgrim, your blood is milk and

The worm is turning, so happy in his burning
Unknowing, impermanent
And spitting gold
Haul the ashes, fire the clay
Love grew ten feet tall
In the time you were away
Did you heed the call?
Were you led astray?
Work is work or it wouldn′t pay
Work is work or it wouldn't pay