6th Avenue Heartache

To add to my list of favorite songs to hear and sing... remember this one, from the Wallflowers?  Jakob Dylan (Bob's progeny) is the singer, with help from Adam Duritz of Counting Crows.

While released as a pop/rock song (and played on top 40 radio), this is actually a folk song.  According to my definition anyway.  I consider a good folk song to be one that first of all tells a story, and second of all makes some kind of comment on society, be it political or sociological or whatever.

To me, this song not only tells a story but paints a vivid mental picture of the urban homeless.  I turned to Flickr to help me share the internal images that this song gives me.  Thanks to the Flickr members who agreed to share their work.

[by Gnownad]

[by ONEant]

[by Jacobite Boy]

6th Avenue Heartache - The Wallflowers

Sirens ring, shots ring out

A stranger cries, screams out loud

I had my world strapped against my back

I held my hands, never knew how to act

And the same black line that was drawn on you

Was drawn on me

And now it's drawn me in

6th Avenue heartache

Below me was a homeless man

Singin' songs I knew completely

On the steps alone, his guitar in hand

For fifty years, he stood where he stands

Now walkin' home on those streets

The river winds move my feet

Subway steam, like silhouettes in dreams

They stood by me, just like moonbeams

Look out the window, down upon that street

And gone like a midnight was that man

But I see his six strings laid against that wall

And all his things, they all look so small

I got my fingers crossed on a shooting star

Just like me, just moved on