32nd Street

Ooh, I’d rather have my life than be embalmed
Yes, I’d rather have a bad time than no time at all
Ooh, I’d rather take the storm than be becalmed
Yes, I’d rather have my life than be embalmedBut if I was a monkey up a tree
Well, all you big old blackbirds come and take a peck at me
Oh but I’d rather have that life than be embalmed
Oh yes, I’d rather take that writing off the wallWell now, if I was a monkey up
a tree
Or down in some old basement on 32nd Street
But I’d rather live a nightmare that’s my own
Yes, I’d rather take that writing off the wallSometimes I think I must be going
crazy
'Cos most people seem to value that that hasn’t any worth
Well, that’s their business — now you know I’m easy
As long as they don’t count on me to do the dirty workOh, I’d rather be the
rain than be a pawn
Yes, I’d rather I had nothing than had something that I’d borne
Yes, I’d rather make my church the open road
Yes, I’d rather wipe that writing off the wallYeah now, if I was a monkey up a
tree
Or in some dirty basement down on 32nd Street
Well, I’d rather take my life than be embalmed
Yes, I’d disregard that writing on the wallSometimes I think I must be going
crazy
Most people seem to value that that hasn’t any worth
Well that’s their business — now you know I’m easy
As long as they don’t count on me to do the dirty workOoh, I’d rather have my
life than be embalmed
Yes, I’d rather have a bad time than no time at all
Yes, I’d rather take that storm than be becalmed
Yes, I’d rather have my life than be embalmedOoh, give me just one wish and
leave me be
Yeah, give me some old shack upon that rocky mountain scene
But I’d rather take my life than be embalmed
Yes, I’d rather wipe that writing off the wall