The album version of this song is in the key of F though David plays it in G on
the acoustic bootlegs.
Intro: (2x)
F Gm Dm
F Gm C
Verse:
F Gm
Well, there are sixteen people in Danny's apartment
F Gm
Sixteen people are living in there
F Dm
Remember the days of rent control
C Bb
Grandpa remembers rock and roll
F Gm
These days won't last forever
F Gm
These days won't last for long
F Gm
You know, somebody somewhere owes us a favor
F Gm
That's how things really get done
C Bb C Bb
In this World of Opportunities, it's a Land of Possibilities
Chorus:
F Bb C Bb
We wanna live in a dirty old town
F Bb C Bb
Building it up, tearing us down
F Bb C Bb
With our head in the clouds and our feet on the ground
F Bb F Gm Dm
We wanna live - dirty old town
Dm F Gm C
Dirty old town
F Gm Dm
F Gm C
Verse:
F Gm
Now when the ladies come from Kansas
F Gm
They wear their traditional colors
F Dm
Today the fabrics are ragged and torn
C Bb
The clothes on their backs is all that they own
F Gm
They say, "Don't draw attention to yourself
F Gm
They'll tear you apart for a couple of bucks
F Dm
Keep you head down and keep you nose clean
C Bb
'Cause people who're scared do dangerous things"
F Gm
These days can't last forever
F Gm
These days can't last for long
F Gm
You know someday things'll get better
F Gm
Somehow things'll get done
C Bb C Bb
In this World of Possibilities, it's the Land of Opportunities
Chorus:
F Bb C Bb
We wanna live in a dirty old town
F Bb C Bb
Building it up, tearing us down
F Bb C Bb
With our head in the clouds and our feet on the ground
F Bb F Gm Dm
We wanna live - dirty old town
Dm F Gm C
Dirty old town
Verse:
F Gm
These days shoes are worn only on special occasions
F Gm
Battles are fought for fam'ly and nations
F Dm
Maybe you'll pray, but God isn't home
C Bb
And there's no guarantee that justice be done
Chorus:
F Bb C Bb
We wanna live in a dirty old town
F Bb C Bb
Building it up, tearing us down
F Bb C Bb
With our head in the clouds and our feet on the ground
F Bb F Gm Dm
We wanna live - dirty old town
Dm F Gm C
Dirty old town
Outro:
(Horns play melody)
F--------
Gm C
(Notes are sung along)
(2x)
F Gm Dm
F Gm C