John Mellencamp
"The West End"

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