Back to Detroit - Wayne Kramer

It’s a hard wind blows through the buildings and empty lots

As the corner of michigan and 31st waits in ruin

And the echoes of happy shoppers faded long, long, long ago

Back when chrysler, gm and ford went mad with greed

Oh, how we hoped it would turn out right

Going back to detroit

Kid could ride his bike through any neighborhood in town

No fear of getting jacked for his sneakers

Drive-bys only happened to the purple gang

Back before the rebellion of '67

Still we dreamed it could turn out right

Movin back to detroit

Drove down from st.

claire, took all night

Going back to detroit

From east grand boulevard to michigan and 31st

Over to livernois and warren

And then the upper duplex of elmer and mcgraw street

And then the big move to our own whole house in lincoln park

Which shattered into a rental in taylor

And the endless search for the great good place

Was redeemed by the power of loud electric guitars

Up the river it’s all forests and secret trails

And forts and swamps and dogs and boats

And the day held a million adventures for a boy of seven

But that was before the time of later ghosts

Lost paradise left behind

Huck finn hits the steets and the neon light

Hope against hope it’ll turn out right

Going back to detroit.

Drove down from algonac, took all night

Going back to detroit