Pershing square
Big Jesus Saves neon sign
Shoulda been as famous as the
Hollywoodland sign.

It was up high.
Six stories maybe,
Dwarfed by the ARCO mirrors today
But respectable tall in an earthquake,
Saint Andreas's fault, they said,
Back then.
That was old L.A.
Before malls in the valley, ya know.
L.A. had basement bars
Like on tv back east in old gangster times
Walk along the avenue
Fifth avenue
Struttin' up
The north edge o'the war hero park.
Always hope.
Big Jesus saves neon sign,
Easy to see comin up them
Basement bar stairs at night, but
Daylight, you didn’t notice as much.
That was old L.A.
Smog and Schwabs
Drugstore on the corner
Crescent Heights and Sunset
Up in Hollywood land but
Still old L.A.
Somebody famous got discovered there
I don't think I ever heard who it was
Probably has foot prints at Grauman's and a star
On the boulevard but
I would not know it
If I saw it.