Lou Marsh

Lyrics

On the streets of New York City when the hour was gettin' late
There were young men armed with knives and guns, and young men armed with hate
And Lou Marsh stepped between them, and died there in his tracks
For one man is no army when a city turns its back

Chorus:
And now the streets are empty, now the streets are dark
So keep an eye on shadows and never pass the park
For the city is a jungle when the law is out of sight
And death lurks in El Barrio with the orphans of the night

He left behind the chambers of the church he served so long
For he learned the prayers of distant men will never right the wrongs
His church became an alley and his pulpit was the street
And he made his congregation from the boys he used to meet
(Chorus)

There were two gangs approaching in Spanish Harlem town
The smell of blood was in the air, the challenge was laid down
He felt their blinding hatred and he tried to save their lives
And the answer that they gave him was their fists and feet and knives
(Chorus)

Now Lou Marsh lies forgotten in his cold and silent grave
But his memory still lingers on in those he tried to save
And all of us who knew him will now and then recall
And shed a tear on poverty -- the tombstone of us all
(Chorus)

Notes

Copyright © 1963 APPLESEED MUSIC, INC.