"Up to Ravenswood"

up to Ravenswood"
well pa would get mad
if we did'nt wanna stand in line to get vittles,
said you wanna eat?
the preacher she took a strong dislike to me
and didnt give me no pasta
in the bags she was handing out to everyone
so it was 'bout then
I did'nt wanna go up to the chuch on wedenesday nights
in ravenswood but kenmore and lawrence church liked
me fine we ran the alleys all day up kenmore
from loyola way down to past armitage in an old ford
and sat out in the alleys
drinking fortys of the cheapest milwakee piss made.
When I wanted to move the gun held under the oven
with magnets so we could cook he got mad
so one night I wanted to shoot the television
like elvis and he said we'ld get kicked out
He brought home a big old Indian once and I made love to her
he brought home a pretty little whore
and I left them alone and she robbed him.
so we found somebody in the street
selling cheese like like we was collectors
until the government did'nt wanna give 'em no more
up at sallysone day i got a bowl of grits or meal and
was happy to get it til I scooped a big roach up
and then puked back in the bowl
go to through it away and somebody wants it from me
months later I got the chills could'nt move for 3 days
my dad says you wanna eat?
so I went to stand in the crowd at day labor
but could'nt stand that day
when I made the line at breakfast it was a long one
and somebody goes in the pantry from the kitchen
and I seen all them cans he came out I stuck my foot
in the door snuk in and got me 3 cans of uncut soup
went home and was soon cured.
I made that 'ol macaroni for wendy once,
but she did'nt like it.
I found a blue eyed squall somewheres and
we took to each other
she bought me a burrito and a case of old style
and since it was summer
we camped on the roof of hideaway where it was cooler.
well one day at the soup kitchen they had let a cute but crazy
black woman out a little to soon and since I had long
hair she goes into yelling tou ain't jesus at me
well I laughed and people starts getting up and
bringing me thier bowls of potato soup
like it was some kinda cool hand luke trick
I was just the "guitar player"round them parts
so when I try to eat there last time incognitto
don't exist some call me the name of the "L" I
sung the "50 cent song" at and
some say look at him all schooled up.
well back when I was gonna try those seeing eye glasses
you know the welfare frames I wanted em tinted
cause the cabs drove around with thier lights on at
night blinding the crap outta me.
so I get the frames and tinted
and walk out of the eye place on broadway just north of wilson
and my dad starts a yelling look at hollywood
theres hollywood
and my brother laughs and I tell em call me Johnny Johnny F.N. Hollywood