this is a song about a particular street near where i live-broadway , in manhattan, nyc. quick demo, first draft of the song, too
singer
songwriter
comedy
political
serious
topical
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Story behind the song
this is a song about a particular street near where i live-broadway , in manhattan, nyc. quick demo, first draft of the song, too.. wanted to tell the song from the perspective of the street itself over the last 300+ years.
Lyrics
(You can call me) Broadway © m. skliar Feb 22 2007
The wickquasgeck trail I was named
by the natives who were rather skittish
‘breede weg’ it was called by the dutch you’ll recall
who were then chased away by the british
and I was still largely dirt
when the revolution did begin
I saw Nathan Hale get hanged in a jail
saw Washington being sworn in
I remember the day I was paved
with stones from quarries upstate
buggies and horses, all joining forces
the mighty march of real estate
and it would take a week back then
to travel the distance of me
from bowling green to the farmlands serene
up the river up to Albany
on the river there were hundreds of sails
fluttering in the breeze
a change in the regime, sails turning to steam
and around me, a few less trees
and after a while it happened
a carriage without a horse
the mighty mares, who had served us so fair
were retired without remorse
and the rough stones they gave way
to asphalt, cement and concrete
no more barefoot young child, running wild
for the road it gave off too much heat
I saw the fire on the General Slocum
saw the rise of the automobile
parades of ticker tape, two big buildings take shape
saw them fall in a tangle of steel
the big theaters where gods once played
making real the world’s temptations
they had faces they had voices, there was ‘theater’ there were choices
now it’s just sitcom adaptations
but I’m still the great white way
still drawing in the dreamers
coming far and wide like a rising tide
the planners hopers and schemers
I am the street I am life
300 years I’m here to stay
the street of dreams if you know what I mean
you can call me broadway
I am the street I am life
300 years I’m here to stay
the street of dreams if you know what I mean
you can call me broadway