Free download
Pop, rock, folk, acoustic, ballads.
Song Info
Genre
Charts
Peak #199
Peak in subgenre #15
Author
Paul Aleman
Rights
2008
Uploaded
January 24, 2009
Track Files
MP3
MP3 2.8 MB • 128 kbps • 3:05
Story behind the song
We have all seen the sadness of a homeless person laying on a hard concrete sidewalk. I saw one such lady here in downtown San Antonio which prompted me to write this song.
Kirsten Starcher from Vancouver, BC, gave me permission to use her photograph of the homeless man with dog. Kirsten's amazing story of her photograph follows.
"While I was in Toronto at North by Northeast in June 2006, I saw this man sitting on the sidewalk on Queen Street. It was such a moment, but as usual I hesitated about taking a picture - he was asleep, and that seems like a vulnerable time to take someone's photo, and I couldn't give him change as a thank-you without waking them up. Marcus urged me to take the picture anyway, and so here it is.
Last year I got an email from Feeding Pets of the Homeless to use it on their website and newsletter, and I said sure. Then it was picked up by Paw Prints Magazine. Since then I've also had a request to use it in a deck of inspiration cards, a sociology textbook, and an online course. When it's a commercial publication, I've charged for it; otherwise I've let it be used for free. I haven't received my payments yet for the commercial items, but I intend to give a chunk of it to a local homelessness organization. Since I can't very well go to Toronto and find this guy and pay him, I should give it to someone who's trying to help people like him, at least.
The most interesting email I've received, however, has been from a woman who says this man is her son Noel Mathew Cowley who has been missing for almost two years. She's looking for any information about him, and wants to know if anyone has seen him since; she's posted her contact info in my Flickr comments so you can get in touch with her there.
It's amazing to think that one quickly snapped photo that I almost didn't take could reunite a man with his family. I'm hoping it happens. I can't seem to find anything else on Noel Cowley online, though, no missing persons reports or anything like that, so this is all I've got. But if you're in Toronto and you think you've seen this fellow with his dog, let her know, would you?"
Kirsten is also a multitalented artist, musician, and web designer/developer. She plays bass with the group named "Artic". Their info is found at:
http://www.projectarctic.com/
Lyrics
WHERE DO I GO/
WHERE I BELONG?
I’M HUNGRY AND I’M COLD/
WHERE IS MY HOME?
I KNOW THIS ROAD/
I WALKED BEFORE/
ALWAYS ALONE/
HAVE I A HOME?
I WANT TO REMEMBER/
THAT SOMEONE ONCE LOVED ME/
WITH WARM EYES/ AND SOFT LIPS/
SO TENDER/ LIKE MORNING.
I WANT TO REMEMBER/
I HAD A HOME/
SO LONELY/ LET ME GO HOME.
AT NIGHT I SLEEP/
ON LONELY STREETS.
I BEG FOR FOOD/
IN MY BARE FEET.
I KNOW THIS ROAD/
I WALKED BEFORE/
ALWAYS ALONE/
HAVE I A HOME?
I WANT TO REMEMBER/
A FAMILY WITH FACES/
THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS/
OF LOVE AND OF CLOSENESS.
I WANT TO REMEMBER/
THE LOVE OF MY MOTHER/
THE SMILE OF MY SISTER/
MY BEST FRIEND MY BROTHER.
I WANT TO REMEMBER/
THAT SOMEONE ONCE LOVED ME/
WITH WARM EYES/ AND SOFT LIPS/
SO TENDER/ LIKE MORNING.
Song Likes
Paul, you did a commendable job in your song construction - love the changes in tempo and rhythm. Your lyrics evoke deep sympathy for the plight of the homeless which is what you you are after, no doubt. Keep up the good work. Johnny