[Verse 1]
Black faces pressed against the glass where rain has pressed its weight
Windblown scarves in top-down cars all share one western trait
Sadness leaks through tear-stained cheeks
From winos to dime-store Jews
Probably don't know they gave me these late John Garfield blues

[Verse 2]
Midnight fell on Franklin Street and the lamppost bulbs were broke
For the life of me, I could not see
But I heard a brand new joke
Two men were standing upon a bridge
One jumped and screamed, "You lose!"
And just left the odd man holding those late John Garfield blues

[Bridge]
Old man sleeps with his conscience at night
Young kid sleeps with his dreams
While the mentally ill sit perfectly still
And live through life's in-betweens

[Verse 3]
I'm going away to the last resort in a week or two, real soon
Where the fish don't bite but once a night
By the cold light of the moon
The horses scream, the nightmares dream
And the dead men all wear shoes
'Cause everybody's dancing those late John Garfield blues