Thomas Dolby 17 Hills Lyrics

This city rises on 17 hills 17 hills from the sea And you can see 5 of those 17 hills Through the iron grill in cell block E

This city rises on 17 hills 17 hills from the bay You can see 9 of those 17 hills From the lead roof of cell block A

Papa came here as a sailor Jumped a ship in '53 Away I ran, my mama drank herself to death I guess got that dirty gene It's about all he left to me

This city rises on 17 hills 17 hills from the bay You can see 12 of those 17 hills From the downpipe of cell block H

Flaming-haired, her name was Irene The prettiest thief you ever seen We robbed a store and she shot an armed guard Mine was the face on the DVR

They ran us down on the delta In a freight yard rusting in the sun But all I wanted was a place among those hills I didn't mean to hurt no one Least of all the girl I loved
This city rises on 17 hills 17 hills to the sky I spread her ashes at the foot of those hills The 17th hill is where she lies

If I can bribe some crooked lawyer To smuggle in a hacksaw blade Tide tables and a yard or two of twine I'd ride the driftwood in the bay And let the wind decide my fate

This city rises on 17 hills 17 hills from the bay And the silhouette of those beautiful hills Is right at the end of the soul's dawn drain

This city rises on 17 hills 17 hills from the bay Last thing I saw was all 17 hills In between crests of the ocean waves The towering crests of the ocean waves