The town that I came from Was quiet and small We played in the meadows Where the grass grew so tall In summer the lilacs Would grow everywhere The laughter of children Would float in the air
As I grew older I had to roam Far from my family, Far from my home Into the city, Where lives can be spent Lost in the shadows Of tar and cement Into the city Where I had my eye On all of the pleasures That money can buy
Yet I can see it all so clearly now Still going on Yes I can see it all so clearly now Still going on
Each day I'd wake up And look at the sky I think of the meadows Where I used to lie Then I'd remember All of that's gone You're in the city, You better push on Get what you came for, Before it's too late Get what you came for, The meadows can wait
So every night I'd sit alone and learn What loneliness meant Up in my rented room above the world Of tar and cement
Many years later, Tired at last I headed for home To look for my past I looked for the meadows, There wasn't a trace Six lanes of highway Had taken their place Where were the lilacs And all that they meant Nothing but acres Of tar and cement
Yet I can see it all so clearly now Though all has been gone? Yes I can see it all so clearly now Where has it gone? Where are the meadows? (tar and cement) Where are the lilacs? (tar and cement) The laughter of children? (tar and cement)