the city (live at sticky studios)

this city never sleeps

i hear the people walk by when it's late

sirens bleed through my windowsill

i can't close my eyes

don't control what i'm into

this tower is alive

the lights that blind keep me awake

with my hood up and lace untied

sleep fills my mind

don't control what i'm into

london calls me a stranger

a traveller

this is now my home

my home

i'm burning on the back street

stuck here sitting in the backseat

and i'm blazing on the street

what i do isn't up to you

and if the city never sleeps

then that makes two

the pavement is my friend

it will take me where i need to go

i find it trips me up

and puts me down

this is not what i'm used to

the shop across the road

fulills my needs and gives me company

when i need it

voices speak through my walls

i don't think i'm gonna make it

past tomorrow

london calls me a stranger

a traveller

this is now my home

home

i'm burning on the back street

stuck here sitting in the backseat

i'm blazing on the street

what i do isn't up to you

and if the city never sleeps

then that makes two

and my lungs hurt

and my ears bled

with the sound of the city life

echoed in my head

do i need this to keep me alive?

the traffic stops and starts

but i need to move along

i'm from a city where the rain won't cease

pollution in the air matches that on the street

the black smoke gets your head into a muddle

like

walking into elephant syringes in the puddle

like

i was a country boy when i moved out

grew up too fast for my family to find out

now i try to stop my music running into nosedives

can't resort to arrogance with white lies

this city won't erase me

but i can't help to see how this dark city changed me

it's all the same scene

music is my life

but now i try to fight whatever i need to hide from

north

south

east

west

london's my home now

knees weak

but we never slow down

now i start to do my music properly

and stay away from all the negative shit that will follow me

london calls me a stranger

this is not my home

home

i'm burning on the back street

stuck here sitting in the backseat

i'm blazing on the street

what i do isn't up to you

and if the city never sleeps

then that makes two