You tell me this town aint got no heart. well, well, well, you can never tell.
The sunny side of the street is dark. well, well, well, you can never tell.
Maybe thats cause its midnight, in the dark of the moon besides.
Maybe the dark is from your eyes, maybe the dark is from your eyes,
Maybe the dark is from your eyes, maybe the dark is from your eyes,
Maybe the dark is from your eyes, maybe the dark is from your eyes,
You know you got such dark eyes!
Nothin shakin on shakedown street. used to be the heart of town.
Dont tell me this town aint got no heart. you just gotta poke around.
You think youve seen this town clear through.
Well, well, well, you can never tell.
Nothin here that could intrest you. well, well, well, you can never tell.
Its not because you missed out on the thing that we had to start.
Maybe you had too much too fast. maybe you had too much too fast.
Maybe you had too much too fast. maybe you had too much too fast.
Maybe you had too much too fast. maybe you had too much too fast.
Or just over played your part.
Nothin shakin on shakedown street. used to be the heart of town.
Dont tell me this town aint got no heart. you just gotta poke around.
Since Im passing your way today. well, well, well, you can never tell.
I just stopped in cause I want to say, well, well, well, you can never tell.
I recall your darkness when it crackled like a thundercloud.
Dont tell me this town aint got no heart.
Dont tell me this town aint got no heart.
Dont tell me this town aint got no heart.
Dont tell me this town aint got no heart.
Dont tell me this town aint got no heart.
Dont tell me this town aint got no heart.
When I can hear it beat out loud!
Nothin shakin on shakedown street. used to be the heart of town.
Dont tell me this town aint got no heart. you just gotta poke around. [ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/g/grateful_dead/shakedown_street.html ]
In the '70's there were some people who were disappointed in the "new dead" and criticized them that they weren't as good as they were in the 60's and early 70's. This song is clearly a response to that. "town" and "shakedown street" = grateful dead
"you tell me this town ain't got no heart. "
then: "maybe the dark is from your eyes", meaning maybe it's your stupid fault that you don't like the new stuff. The hate is coming from inside you, you are projecting that onto the dead.
"nothin' shakin' on shakedown street. Used to be the heart of town. Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart. You just gotta poke around. "
meaning nothing good coming from the dead these days, whereas they used to be the greatest, the "heart of town". But don't give me that crap, just open your mind and listen! Just because it's different, doesn't mean it's no good.
"it's not because you missed out on the thing that we had to start. "
this addresses the very often heard refrain from people that were upset they weren't around for the early hay days of the dead.
Then there is the piece de resistance: it's a disco song! I think they must have did that on purpose as well. Of course they are going to get criticized for doing disco! So they write a song about being unduly and unfairly criticized and they put it to a disco song! Fantastic! These boys sure are creative! You gotta love it!