Al Stewart - Old Compton street blues

Oh your pictures they don't really do you justice little girl


For you're careful not to let the camera touch your private world


And there's just a hint of sadness in your smile through the dark


As you slip your dress off slowly for the sailor or the clerk


And it could have been so different, and at times you feel bad


For you really did have something that the others never had


And the circle turns and turns and turns so mad, little girl





Ah you must have been just fifteen when you made your mind up first


That you'd make it in the movies and you couldn't lose the thirst


And it took you to the attic where the Agent King holds Court


And his courtesans are fully paid up losers of a sort


He looks at you and tells you that you just might get the part


But you don't get things for nothing and he doesn't want your heart


And the circle turns and turns and turns so mad, little girl





Mmm, you made it to the silver screen and yet you're not a star


And advertising corsets didn't get you too far


But money has its favourites and yours went back to them


So you modelled in a studio in Greek Street for the rent


There you met Antonio, your lover from afar


Who put you on the streets to make the money for his car


And the circle turns and turns and turns so fast, little girl





Ah, your pictures they don't really do you justice any more


For they're crumpled now and faded and were taken long ago


And that faintly coy expression has now left without a trace


Ah there's little of it buried in the ruins of your face


It could have been so different, and at times you feel bad


For you really did have something that the others never had


And the circle turns and turns and turns so mad, little girl





For the circle turns and turns and turns so sad, little girl.


Oh the circle turns and turns and it's too bad, little girl.