Cherokee Louise is hiding in this tunnel In the Broadway bridge We're crawling on our knees We've got flashlights and batteries We've got cold cuts from the fridge Last year about this time We used to climb up in the branches Just to sway there in some breeze Now the cops on the street They want Cherokee Louise People like to talk Tongues are waggin' over fences Waggin' over phones All their doors are locked God she can't even come to our house But I know where she'll go To the place where you can stand And press your hands like it was bubblebath In dust piled high as me Down under the street My friend Poor Cherokee Louise Ever since we turned thirteen It's like a minefield Walking to the door Going out you get the third degree
And comin' in you get the third world war Tuesday after school We put our pennies on the rails And when the train went by We were jumpin' round like fools Goin' "Look no heads or tails" Goin' "Look my lucky prize" She runs home to her foster dad He opens up a zipper And he yanks her to her knees Oh please be here please My friend Poor Cherokee Louise Cherokee Louise is hiding in this tunnel In the Broadway bridge We're crawling on our knees We've got Archie and Silver Screen I know where she is The place where you can stand And press your hand like it was bubblebath In dust piled high as me Down under the street My friend Poor Cherokee Louise Oh Cherokee Louise