Album: The Honky Tonk Years (1950-1966)
A bright array of city lights as far as I can see
The Great White Way shines through the night for lonely guys like me
The cabarets and honky tonks, their flashing signs invite
A broken heart to lose itself in the glow of city lights
Lights that say "Forget her name in a glass of sherry wine"
Lights that offer other girls for empty hearts like mine
They paint a pretty picture of a world that's gay and bright
But it's just a mask for loneliness behind those city lights
The world was dark, and God made stars to brighten up the night
But God who put the stars above I don't believe made those lights
For it's just a place for men to cry when things don't turn out right
Just a place to run away and hide behind those city lights
Lights that say "Forget her love in a different atmosphere"
Lights that lure are nothing but a masquerade for tears
They paint a pretty picture but my arms can't hold them tight
And I just can say "I love you" to a street of city lights