Lyrics:

(T. Drummond/R. Cooder)

(C#7)



Well, did you hear the good news ?

There's gonna be some bad blues

Somebody said they're playing all night long

So go and fill your brown bag and put on all your clean rags

Let's go downtown and see what's going on



You take me down the Vine Street

Stop when you hear the back beat

And I'll sneak past the bounccer at the door

Now I know that he ain't looking

Not when the band is cooking

Because he's watching the ladies dancing on the floor



Going down in Hollywood

You better hope that you don't run out of gas

Down in Hollywood

He'll drag you right out of your car and kick your ass

Down in Hollywood

They're standing on a corner waiting for a sucker like you

Down in Hollywood

Now, if you want to stay healthy just keep a-moving right on through

Be careful, don't look back, keep moving, keep moving



Well, the scotch has started flowing

And some girls she is showing everything she's got

Folks, it's a sight!

Some men will give a week's pay if she would just dance down their way and say

'Baby, I'm gonna take you home with me tonight'

Outside the streets is shaking and I hear the windows breaking

Some poor fool's gonna land in jail tonight

Well, all those hookers trying to pull your coat and the pimps reach out to cut your throat

Ain't no way out of here without a fight

(What's that fool saying ?)



Going down in Hollywood

You better hope that you don't run out of gas

Down in Hollywood

He'll drag you right out of your car and kick your ass

Down in Hollywood

They're standing on a corner waiting for a sucker like you

Down in Hollywood

Now, if you want to stay healthy just keep a-moving right on through

Be careful, don't look back, keep moving, keep moving



Voice of gay male: 'Hi. You know that you're going to get arrested the way that those pants fir around your thighs. Oh, come back honey! Don't leave now.'

Voice of pimp: 'Hey, bud. Come here, let me talk to you for a second. Give me that'

[Sounds of fists, a robbery]

'Cops coming'

Voice of policeman (Ry): '869 Victor.' [radio code] 'Jesus, this guy's a mess'

Voice of other cop: 'Well, he's just drunk. Come on, pick him up, put him in the car and take him downtown'



Well, his mama told him not to go

Little sister told him too

But the poor boy just didn't listen

Like he should have, that's too bad

He hitchhiked all the way from Burbank

Now, he's gonna end up in drunk tank

Some old man say, 'Yeah, well, that's just the way it goes down in Hollywood'



Going down in Hollywood

You better hope that you don't run out of gas

Down in Hollywood

He'll drag you right out of your car and kick your ass

Down in Hollywood

They're standing on a corner waiting for a sucker like you

Down in Hollywood

Now, if you want to stay healthy just keep a-moving right on through



For truth! Man, I'm telling you

Well, they'll do anything down in that low-down Hollywood

He'll be in a world of trouble now

Lord, have mercy

Can I get a witness