Do things on shoe strings to make the ends meet
Cut costs and corners in order to eat
Low income housing they couldn't afford
Bills and collectors that they just ignored

While the pressures were mounting
The tensions would rise
She had been counting on some of the lies
That he had been telling her being the truth
The fighting and yelling the magic of youth
The magic of youth

He hit the pipe she hit the pole
Stereotypes that were out of control
Addictions evictions mistakes being made
Health's going south looks were starting to fade

And he'd give his right arm if his left one could get
A spike in the vein then a loose cigarette
The both lost their dignity him every tooth
Classic and tragic the magic of youth
The magic of youth

The years flew by quickly that's how they fly by
Older and sickly and waiting to die
But they stayed close together to tell you the truth
Yelling and fighting classic and tragic
It's all so exciting the magic of youth
The magic of youth
The magic of youth
The magic of youth