From Peter Case's most recent "Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John"

UNDERNEATH THE STARS

It's cold outside; lord help those
Lost tonight with the freezing toes.
In the dark with the rain-drenched clothes,
She's all the way down.
The sky has cleared; stars are bright.
The temperature's gonna fall tonight.
In the park looking for a light,
She's in a hospital gown.

Underneath the stars,
City by the sea,
Headlights of the cars
Shine but no one sees.
It's another world
Just five feet away.
Look into her eyes.
"God bless" is all she'll say.

Some drink wine; some are smokin' crack.
This lady all alone wants none of that,
In the park with a cart and sack,
Afraid she's gonna drown.
A choice she made not long ago
Has led to this; how could you know?
The door slammed shut, her children go
To whatever life they've found.

Underneath the stars,
What's it going to be?
In the house of Mars
Stranded by degrees.
Hunger in the night
Answered with a prayer,
See the passing cars,
There's nobody there,

Now the clergy have their doubts:
Are they helping lazy layabouts?
Late at night the drunken louts
Terrify the town.
The cops are young; well, they're just kids.
They don't know about the skids.
They just do what the gentry bids
From the other end of town.

Underneath the stars,
Who will crack the seal?
Waitin' here to die,
Numbers on a wheel,
Figures in the dark
Crouch against the wall.
Out here in the park,
There's no one to call.

Asleep in the park, rain or shine,
A thousand crows on the telephone line,
Ask her how and she'll say: "Fine"
She's all the way down.
Dew drops shot like cannonballs
Crash on paper prison walls.
Her heart stops beating and her breathing stalls.
She's dyin' all alone.

Underneath the stars,
City by the sea,
Headlights of the cars
Shine but no one sees.
It's another world
Just five feet away.
Look into her eyes.
"God bless" is all she'd say.

So now you ask: "What can I do?"
See and know they're just like you.
You could wind up in the blue
Beneath a pauper's crown.
Don't be afraid; you'll be surprised
If when you look into their eyes
You find a soulful feeling rise.
You're all the way down.

Underneath the stars,
City by the sea,
Headlights of the cars
Shine but no one sees.
In another world,
Just five feet away,
Look into her eyes.
"God bless" is all she'd say.

Let us now praise Mr. Peter Case...