Music by elton john Lyrics by bernie taupin Available on the album ice on fire It's closing time the boys are all together at the bar Staring in their glasses Looks like another layoff at the yard Yesterday I heard union hall come down They hit it with a wrecking ball And they try but nothing changes in this town Cap in hand stood in line Your family ties are the chains that bind The endless wheel goes round and round Chances are you'll never leave this town Oh oh no Like a river now the empty streets are flooded out with rain It's falling on the playground While the kids get wet playing the same old games Locked away so many things remind them of war They tap the pavement with their canes The good old days ain't so good no more