and now we sing

east end

Take me to the east end:
the dirty part of the city
where all our friends live,
love, drink, and die.

A lifetime of happiness in
a poor man’s meal,
a prostitute’s kiss,
a bellowing child,
and your eyes.

A lifetime of happiness in
a second-hand shirt,
a hole in the wall,
the broken down van
of the band.

Take me to the east end:
a dirt road by the harbour
where all the lights shine,
hopeless and brave.

A lifetime of happiness in
an argument,
a thunderstorm,
a can of soup,
and a song.