a few changes.....

I got a book of photographs from old sing-sing
They used to say 'upstate,' and that's what they mean
It's such a pretty name for such an awful place
At every page I'm looking at another blank face
And you know they had to find a way to pass time
And that's what I've been doing for a while now, baby
I been marking each day with a write on the wall
And waiting by the telephone to take that call

And they try to change my mind but find it's useless
Cause they know too well the history of excuses

Look at them cling to their political machine
That can jingle their coffers like old boss tweed
And they jiggle their handles (not sure about this) and juggle the books
As there's hatchets to batten and buttons the hook
And you know, I wish I could change it with a vote
But I never found myself on the right side of the polls
I've got a dream where I'm out in the open
Where there's mountains and trees and the smell of the ocean

And they try to change my mind but find it's useless
Cause they know too well the history of excuses

*solo*

And now I'm riding on a Hudson river train
I'm at the window as we're passing pass the Rockefeller estate
He used to buy up all the houses just to clear 'em away
'cause they cluttered the view of the far palisaides
Now, I can't buy one house, let alone a valley full
and my only view is that of some blank wall
I got so tired of being confined and waiting around, (?) I got doing time.

And they try to change my mind but find it's useless
Cause they know too well the history of excuses
And they try to change my mind but find it's useless
Cause they know too well the history of excuses