Story Behind the Song
The motivation for this song stems from
the adage:"If you're not angry, you're not paying attention.
The lyrics are self explanitory.
The song was written in San Francisco, CA
It took a couple of hours to write.
It took a couple of days (in the evenings) to record (I'm still learning Cakewalk)
This is the 3rd or 4th take.
Lyrics
I took a walk down Lonely Street
I stopped in this little cafe
The Heartbreak Hotel? Hey, that’s long gone now,
Since Elvis' day
The place got so damn’d popular it drove the clientele away
So now they gather here.
Alienation Cafe
With leotards and Doc Martins, everyone’s dressed in black
It ain’t no fashion statement; It's a statement of fact.
You loose interest after a while in all the shades of gray
But there’s clarity here
Alienation Caf
Every month a new artist puts work up on display.
It may not be what you call art
It’s there for it’s own sake.
Our Lady of the Sorrows
She’s there staring in her tea
And claims that all her relationships have failed due to the likes of me
I said, “Hey, I never even knew you.”
She said, “That’s what they all say.
What’re you doing here?”
Alienation Caf
And Bob, he was a retail manager of some national franchise
And he spent twenty years of service
To the bottom line
The head office said, “It ain’t personal, Bob”
As they sent him on his way
But they take it personal here
Alienation Caf
And Tuesday nights the poets to the Culture of the Deaf
Scream in vain at those who came and could not care less
The Senators and Congressmen, they came down to see
If they could comprehend the cause of all this apathy
“If you are so unhappy, don’t expect so much.” they say
And then they walk on out
Alienation Caf
And Joe, he’s on Social Security, but he owed the IRS
One red cent but he paid hundreds in late fees and interest
The government then forgives multi-million dollar debts
Ah, but Joe had to pay
Alienation Caf
Thursday nights the folk singers, we arrive with our guitars
We despise all that’s phony as we struggle to be Stars
The telephone is ringing off the wall and before I split
I picked up the receiver and a voice said, “Who is this?”
“Hey, if you don’t know who you’re calling
You’d better stay away”
There’s no answer here
Alienation Caf
I took a walk down Lonely Street
I stopped in this little cafe
The Heartbreak Hotel? Hey, that’s long gone now,
Since Elvis' day
The place got so damn’d popular it drove the clientele away
So now they gather here.
Alienation Cafe
With leotards and Doc Martins, everyone’s dressed in black
It ain’t no fashion statement; It's a statement of fact.
You loose interest after a while in all the shades of gray
But there’s clarity here
Alienation Caf
Every month a new artist puts work up on display.
It may not be what you call art
It’s there for it’s own sake.
Our Lady of the Sorrows
She’s there staring in her tea
And claims that all her relationships have failed due to the likes of me
I said, “Hey, I never even knew you.”
She said, “That’s what they all say.
What’re you doing here?”
Alienation Caf
And Bob, he was a retail manager of some national franchise
And he spent twenty years of service
To the bottom line
The head office said, “It ain’t personal, Bob”
As they sent him on his way
But they take it personal here
Alienation Caf
And Tuesday nights the poets to the Culture of the Deaf
Scream in vain at those who came and could not care less
The Senators and Congressmen, they came down to see
If they could comprehend the cause of all this apathy
“If you are so unhappy, don’t expect so much.” they say
And then they walk on out
Alienation Caf
And Joe, he’s on Social Security, but he owed the IRS
One red cent but he paid hundreds in late fees and interest
The government then forgives multi-million dollar debts
Ah, but Joe had to pay
Alienation Caf
Thursday nights the folk singers, we arrive with our guitars
We despise all that’s phony as we struggle to be Stars
The telephone is ringing off the wall and before I split
I picked up the receiver and a voice said, “Who is this?”
“Hey, if you don’t know who you’re calling
You’d better stay away”
There’s no answer here
Alienation Caf
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