Billy really loves his lady Lou
she got eyes for an uptown dude
he got a honey
he keep across town
now they all on the corner
it's a battle ground

what a shame
lord knows what a shame
yeah it seem like the neighborhood fallin' apart
and everybody's breakin' everybody's heart

Annie got in trouble with her man Jim
she sent her friend Betty just to talk to him
imagine the look on Annie's face
when she caught them red handed at daddy's place

what a shame
lord knows what a shame
yeah it seem like the neighborhood fallin' apart
and everybody's breakin' everybody's heart

people get to talkin'
the word gets around
the next thing you know
you got a scandal in town

your lightin' the fuse
when you gamble the heart
the stakes are high
when the fireworks start

what a shame
lord knows what a shame
yeah it seem like the neighborhood fallin' apart
and everybody's breakin' everybody's heart