They say people out in Hollywood
Live their life out in black and white
They're living out a Technicolor dream
Next day they're a star overnight
Not like living in New York
Man, it's tougher
Not like in London town
Boy, you suffer
Nobody give a break
When you're down on your luck
Everybody's on the take
When you're down on your luck
You can't make a mistake
When you're down on your luck
People out in Hollywood
They got a lot of class
You see the boys strutting down the boulevard
Trying to make a pass
Not like in New York
It's high rise, it's concrete and complex
Not like in London town
It rains down on its subjects
Nobody give a damn
When you're down on your luck
Nobody understands
When you're down on your luck
Lady Chance, she won't dance
When you're down on your luck
People out in Hollywood
They can make it to the stars
They can reach the screen
Drive around in big expensive convertible cars
Not like in New York
All you've got is Broadway
Not like in the west end of London
You can't make it no way
Nobody give a damn
When you're down on your luck
Nobody understands
When you're down on your luck
You've got to strut your stuff
When you're down on your luck
You can't take it easy, it ain't good enough
When you're down on your luck
Everybody's on the make
When you're down on your luck
Nobody give a fair deal
When you're down on your luck
Nobody understands my Uncle Sam
When you're down on your luck
I'm ready for the dance
When you're down on your luck
I gotta make a dollar holler
When you're down on your luck