I was born on the streets of New York City,

where growin' up was easy just the same.

I didn't know what I had,

And I didn't know what I was missing,

'Til I met Little Lai and he showed me the way.



Bert wouldn't tell me anything,

Even when I'd asked him everything.

Baby look inside,

For Little Lai you cannot hide,

And for a couple of days we'll take it all in stride.



Little Lai had a business proposition,

And he knew that I wouldn't say no.

He took me into the glow of the cabana,

And he asked all the ladies to go.

He used a key the kind I'd never seen,

And the box opened up in the light.

Lai assured me that the deal was good,

And that the ladies were the rest of the night.



Bert wouldn't tell me anything,

Even when I'd asked him everything.

Baby look inside,

For Little Lai you cannot hide,

And for a couple of days we'll take it all in stride.



Baby look inside,

For Little Lai you cannot hide,

And for a couple of days we'll take it all in stride.



Little Lai was on a path of self-destruction,

All the fun he had had was just a game.

He didn't know where he was,

And he didn't know where he was going,

Last I saw Little Lai he was boarding the train.



Bert wouldn't tell me anything,

Even when I'd asked him everything.

Baby look inside,

For Little Lai you cannot hide,

And for a couple of days we'll take it all in stride.