People come to visit from all around the world
A convenient little rest stop 'tween New York and D.C.
There are a couple sleazy spots, just one or two that's all
Near the all night bars and peep shows and the bell of liberty

[Chorus]
Philadelphia
It really has a minimum of scum
They made it obsolete except on Locust Street
Philadelphia the place where I'm from

Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross and Edgar Allan Poe
Julius Erving, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton and me
We all chose Philly town as the place where we live
What's good for them is good enough for me

Christ Church is a place where I used to get high
I used to do nothing 'cept sit round there all day
And nobody cared, not the bums or the drunks
And the cops never carted me away

Philadelphia
Got honest politicians back there
They went from Frank Rizzo to the Green and the Goode
Got pooper scooper laws down on Rittenhouse Square

Well the Pope came into town on a golden autumn day
I still can hear his voice, feel the essence of its tone
The Pope was cool and so at ease right on the Parkway there
Where many times before he'd seen Sylvester Stallone

And you can keep New Orleans, Paris, London or Hong Kong
L.A., Rio, Nice or any sun-drenched area
I'm like that famous funny man who long ago did write
His tombstone reads I'd rather be in Philadelphia

[Repeat Chorus]

© 1984 by Curt Lippe