The Lights are Always on Downtown

The lights are always on downtown I’d say.
Some days we’d leave the town and head down there.
The Owl’s Nest first for coffee was the play.
We’d sit for hours writing with no cares.
And right next door to Moscoe’s for some drinks.
Some Nitros were the course to take back then.
We sprayed each other more than what we drank.
Those things, when shaken, worked up such a fizz.
If hungry Obie’s just across the street.
My name is carved in tables there and walls.
We played Pac-Man right before we ate.
So many times we haunted those bare halls.
Exit-Inn was just right there, you know.
So many famous artists played that place.
The lines would wrap around before the show.
Glad we parked back when there was a space.
From then we’d go to Dragon Park at dusk.
Remember when we climbed the dragon there?
We watched the fireworks — the wind would gust
And we’d hold tightly to our dragon chairs.
I spent so much of growing up back then
Downtown in Nashville — now so much has changed.
I haven’t been there since I don’t know when.
I need to check to see it rearranged.