I was walking around, just a face in the crowd

Trying to keep myself out of the rain

Saw a vagabond king wear a styrofoam crown

Wondered if I might end up the same

There's a man out on the corner

Singing old songs about change

Everybody's got their cross to bear these days

She came looking for some shelter

With a suitcase full of dreams

To a motel room on the boulevard

I guess she's trying to be James Dean

She's seen all the disciples and all the wannabes

No one wants to be themselves these days

Still there's nothing to hold on to but these days

These days the stars seem out of reach

These days there ain't a ladder on the streets, oh no, no

These days are fast, nothing lasts in this graceless age

Jimmy Shoes, he busted both his legs, trying to learn to fly

From a second story window, he just jumped and closed his eyes

His momma said he was crazy, he said, "Momma, I've got to try

Don't you know that all my heroes died

And I guess I'd rather die than f-f-fade away, yeah"

But these days there ain't a ladder on the streets, oh no, no

These days are fast, nothing lasts, it's a graceless age

I know Rome's still burning

Though the times have changed

This world keeps turning 'round

And 'round and 'round and 'round these days

These days are fast, love don't last, it's a graceless age

These days are fast, nothing lasts

There ain't no time to waste

There ain't nobody left to take the blame, oh no, no

Ain't nobody left but us these days