Verse 1
 
Em                   Bm               Em      A 
Cop is on the corner lookin’ down the street, Waitin’ for the runner 
Em 
comin’ with the treat 
                              Bm             A 
Crime it don’t exist when you look the other way, It’s only in the 
                        Em 
movies….. when it never pays. 
Em                                     A                    Em 
They get you in the Jailhouse, the cops’ll get their pick, You don’t 
                           A 
fight back unless you’re lookin’ to get hit. 
   C       G         D            A 
In Tin Can Alley the cops get the kicks, 
     Em              B                 Em 
They know who it is, carryin’ the sticks.  (2 Bars) 
 
Verse 2
 
Em                  Bm               Em    A 
Hall-way nightmares blackin’ out the moon, Someone’s on the landing 
Em 
fumbling with a spoon 
                      Bm                       A 
Stay for a while, you can’t be here, Cause the man is comin’.....and he 
         Em 
might be near 
Em                                    A                Em 
He knows you’ll come a-lookin’ if you don’t find some, He circles like 
                A 
a vulture till your Mind’s undone, 
       C            G           D           A 
You’re crazy like a rat but you just  can’t run. 
        Em                      B            Em 
Down in Tin Can Alley with your back to the sun. 
 
Verse 3
 
Em                     Bm             Em                A 
Shoebox halls, ain't very much space, It ain’t just the kids that 
Em 
over-run the place 
                      Bm               A 
Rats in the cupboard, papa just sighs, Man is afraid... they’ll make 
           Em 
the baby cry 
Em                                 A                      Em 
They creep along the floor, they creep along the wall,  landlord’s 
          A 
out every time you call 
   C             G                D               A 
You’re scared at night, you can’t walk out in the hall 
        Em                        B                Em 
Down in Tin Can Alley, they ain’t afraid of you at all. 
 
Verse 4
 
Em                      A 
Church is on the corner heralding the poor 
Em                      A 
The earth is in a vault locked inside the door 
Em                            A 
Repent and it is yours is the promise that they give 
EM               Bm        A                                 Em 
And you hope and pray that Jesus...... remembers where you live. 
Em                          A 
You were born to suffer the preacher he believes 
Em                          A 
Pay for all your sins, now get down on your knees 
   C                     G             D                 A 
But you've been down so long that you don't know what it means 
       Em                          B                 Em 
Oh, parked out in the alley in his chauffeured limousine 
        Em                      B            Em 
Down in Tin Can Alley with your back to the sun.