"Washington Street" lyrics - LAURIE ANDERSON

It's midnight downtown. It's been raining for days
Rain beats down.
It covers the streets with its sparkling skin.

In the deli purple light
A woman in a party dress pays for some milk
Yellow cab stops for a light
Two men in black hats are running
A messenger on a bike

Pile drivers pounding. They've set up some lights.
They're digging a hole. It's filling up with black water.

Rainy days. Rainy nights.
Steam rises, covers the city.

Pieces of old newspaper float like paper boats
They slide along the rushing water in the gutter.

Rainy days. Rainy nights.
Rain falls down and covers the city

It falls from fabulous heights.
Covers the streets with its sparkling skin.

And over on Jane street they're shooting that movie again
They just can't seem to get it right

Behind a warehouse in a burned out building
A man is sleeping in a cardboard box on a pile of salt

Rainy days. Rainy nights.
Rain falls down and covers the city

It falls from fabulous heights.
Covers the streets with its sparkling skin.

A man on a park bench
He sits in the pouring rain.