The gangster came to see by boy   When I was working nights to pay one more bill   He promised the kid a sweeter life   Said, "Gotta understand it's dog eat dog out there"   Well I looked in his room when I got home   And underneath the covers found a loaded gun   He looked at me with empty eyes   He said, "It's time for me to be moving on"         Dirty city, this is a dirty town   Where's the pity, I can't move on up to higher ground         I spoke to my woman the other day   She said, "I need more cash we can't pay our way"   She said, "Everything gets really hard   And I need something sweet, don't you understand?"   The roar of the train runs by my room   And on these summer nights I can't sleep anymore   I walk in the streets to greet the dawn   Or stay at home all night and stare at the floor         Dirty city, this is a dirty town   Where's the pity, I can't move on up to higher ground   Dirty city, this is a dirty town   Where's the pity, I can't move on up to higher ground         Help me now   Move on to a higher ground   Help somehow   Make a move to a higher ground   Won't you help somehow   Make a move to a higher ground   Won't you help somehow   I need a little help...         Dirty city, this is a dirty town   Where's the pity, I can't move on up to higher ground...