In the big city, where the lights are low
Cold dirty ground, where the rivers don't flow
Nothing's gonna change so throw it all away

In the big city, where the kids will come cheap
And monsters prowl and never sleep
Don't cross the road if you haven't got the time of day

Well, I lost my girl waitin' for the train from Ride
I know she's out there somewhere
Selling all we got but I don't mind

In the big city, you can walk a thin line
And your mother won't know that you do a bit of crime
Your father's on the dole and he really hasn't got the time

In the big city, where it's hard to see the sky
Black earth trembles when the trains go by
Bums on the corner tell you gently crawl up and die

Well, I lost my girl and I missed my train to Ride
And I'm stuck here sellin' papers
And spittin' on the ground when you walk by
Break

In the big city, you can dance all night
Only if you're clean and the lads are not uptight
Or you may as well forget it until the broad daylight

In the big city, where the suits don't look you in the eye
Learn how to laugh, you'll be plannin' when to die
Don't expect favours when the cars go passing by

I lost my girl waitin' for the train from Ride
Well, I don't mind matching colours or parkin' people's cars
And telling little lies if that's alright

In the big city, in the big city, in the big city
In the big city, in the big city, in the big city