17 Hills

This city rises on 17 hills

17 hills from the sea

And you can see 5 of those 17 hills

Through the iron grill in cell block E

This city rises on 17 hills

17 hills from the bay

You can see 9 of those 17 hills

From the lead roof of cell block A

Papa came here as a sailor

Jumped a ship in '53

And when he ran, my mama drank herself to death

I guess got that dirty gene

It's about all he left to me

This city rises on 17 hills

17 hills from the bay

You see 12 of those 17 hills

From the downpipe of cell block H

Flaming hair and her name was Irene

The prettiest thief you ever seen

We robbed a store and she shot an armed guard

Mine was the face on the DVR

They ran us down on the delta

In a freight yard rusting in the sun

But all I wanted was a place among those hills

I didn't mean to hurt no one

Least of all the girl I loved

This city rises on 17 hills

17 hills to the sky

I spread her ashes at the foot of those hills

The 17th hill is where she lies

If I can bribe some crooked lawyer

To smuggle in a hacksaw blade

Tide tables and a yard or two of twine

I'd ride the driftwood in the bay

And let the wind decide my fate

This city rises on 17 hills

17 hills from the bay

And the silhouette of those beautiful hills

Is right at the end of this old storm drain

This city rises on 17 hills

17 hills from the bay

Last thing I saw was all 17 hills

In between crests of the ocean waves

The towering crests of the ocean waves