"Out of Service"
Written by Grip Grand/G. Winogrond for Broakland Music, BMI
Produced by Richie Cunning/R. Lipton for Son of the City, ASCAP
(Adlibs)
Intro:
This is the story of
A man I met one day when I was waitin' for the bus.
A conversation we had started up,
Talkin' about the world around us and such.
Turned out that he was really down on his luck.
I just listened to the old man-Broakland wisdom.
He talked about a place where the weight can't get him...
And I thought he looked pale as he started his tale
With these words, and I'll never forget 'em:
Verse:
"They said I'd find an opportunity here,
But I been grindin' now for too many years.
I should've stayed back home,
But I'm a man-I swore I'd never make my way back home
Before I tried to make it on my own.
I got a wife, I bought a house that I could call my own,
Got a couple loans to carry the weight.
I guess I made a mistake...
These interest rates didn't seem to abate
When I got laid off, and then started payin' 'em late.
Now I had worked on the line for the last 15,
'Til they replaced me with a faster machine.
Employers told me I was too old, or under-qualified for most things.
My connections at the factory ain't pullin' no strings...
I had to take a job sweepin'.
Every night, I swear I think about leavin',
But instead I volunteered to work evenin's.
Give me overtime, weekends, anything to stay eatin'.
They foreclosed on the house-another place I can't be in.
Lost everything, except what we could fit in the ride.
We haven't found a new spot yet, and trust me I've tried.
Times are tight-the little I make I pay to the bank.
I got a second job...I'm havin' problems stayin' awake.
It ain't safe. For two weeks we had to sleep in the car,
So it's getting hard tryin' to reach for the stars
When I'm droppin' off my son at the classroom,
And kids laughin' at him 'cuz they saw us brushin' our teeth in a gas-station bathroom.
We got a spot at the shelter now for the time bein',
And every night I go to sleep and pray that I'm dreamin'...
So now I take the bus to see some place,
Meet the landlord, hand forms, plead my case.
I think that maybe if they see my face,
They'd know the hurt that I have,
And might let me waive the first and the last
For a few weeks, at least until we get on our feet..."
And then he drifted off. He was either dead or asleep...
And just then the bus pulled up,
And all of a sudden he just stood and got on without sayin' a word.
The bus driver said "Maybe you heard...he's been at this same stop for 15 years.
I came to take him home today."
He tipped his hat and then they drove away.
I stood frozen with an open mouth...
I didn't know if they were goin' either North or South.
There was an "Out of Service" sign in the back window of the bus as they was rollin' out.
That's all I know about...I saw an "Out of Service" sign in the back window of the bus as it was rollin' out.
Written by Grip Grand/G. Winogrond for Broakland Music, BMI
Produced by Richie Cunning/R. Lipton for Son of the City, ASCAP
(Adlibs)
Intro:
This is the story of
A man I met one day when I was waitin' for the bus.
A conversation we had started up,
Talkin' about the world around us and such.
Turned out that he was really down on his luck.
I just listened to the old man-Broakland wisdom.
He talked about a place where the weight can't get him...
And I thought he looked pale as he started his tale
With these words, and I'll never forget 'em:
Verse:
"They said I'd find an opportunity here,
But I been grindin' now for too many years.
I should've stayed back home,
But I'm a man-I swore I'd never make my way back home
Before I tried to make it on my own.
I got a wife, I bought a house that I could call my own,
Got a couple loans to carry the weight.
I guess I made a mistake...
These interest rates didn't seem to abate
When I got laid off, and then started payin' 'em late.
Now I had worked on the line for the last 15,
'Til they replaced me with a faster machine.
Employers told me I was too old, or under-qualified for most things.
My connections at the factory ain't pullin' no strings...
I had to take a job sweepin'.
Every night, I swear I think about leavin',
But instead I volunteered to work evenin's.
Give me overtime, weekends, anything to stay eatin'.
They foreclosed on the house-another place I can't be in.
Lost everything, except what we could fit in the ride.
We haven't found a new spot yet, and trust me I've tried.
Times are tight-the little I make I pay to the bank.
I got a second job...I'm havin' problems stayin' awake.
It ain't safe. For two weeks we had to sleep in the car,
So it's getting hard tryin' to reach for the stars
When I'm droppin' off my son at the classroom,
And kids laughin' at him 'cuz they saw us brushin' our teeth in a gas-station bathroom.
We got a spot at the shelter now for the time bein',
And every night I go to sleep and pray that I'm dreamin'...
So now I take the bus to see some place,
Meet the landlord, hand forms, plead my case.
I think that maybe if they see my face,
They'd know the hurt that I have,
And might let me waive the first and the last
For a few weeks, at least until we get on our feet..."
And then he drifted off. He was either dead or asleep...
And just then the bus pulled up,
And all of a sudden he just stood and got on without sayin' a word.
The bus driver said "Maybe you heard...he's been at this same stop for 15 years.
I came to take him home today."
He tipped his hat and then they drove away.
I stood frozen with an open mouth...
I didn't know if they were goin' either North or South.
There was an "Out of Service" sign in the back window of the bus as they was rollin' out.
That's all I know about...I saw an "Out of Service" sign in the back window of the bus as it was rollin' out.