Thompson Street

Boss Hall’s house was a gathering place
Twenty men standing in the yard
Every afternoon there was something going on
But nobody was working too hard

Governor won’t let an old man be
City tore the Boss house down
Now it’s gravel and grass, no trespass
Bottlecaps on the ground

On Thompson Street, Thompson Street
Boss Hall lived on Thompson Street

Blues man walked with an old guitar
Singing bout greasy greens
Playing for the women and the quarters and the gin
Stirring up the neighborhood scene

On Thompson Street, Thompson Street
Pink Anderson played on Thompson Street

Take a right off Main
Chickens walking in the road
Kids waiting on the bus
Shivering in the cold
Go to school to learn
What the world’s all about
Then they go back to Thompson Street
When school lets out.

You got your good fried chicken at the Woodwards Café
Good fish at the Hamburg Delight
And the white folks come in the middle of the day but they stay away at night

From Thompson street, Thompson street
Hell, it gets a little rough on Thompson street
On Thompson Street, Thompson Street
Pink Anderson played on Thompson Street
On Thompson Street, Thompson Street
Boss Hall lived on Thompson Street