Perhaps more about the nomadic life travelling from one city to another, but worthwhile including. Cllick on the picture in the top corner box for the lyrics.
For the young in the 1960s and 1970s, the city meant freedom, excitement, and a "hot time". This was probably also true in the 1860s and 1870s. Click on the song title for the rest of the lyrics.
Downtown was a place in which non-conformists could relax in their non-conformity, forget their cares, and find others like themselves. Click on the song title for the rest of the lyrics.
Downtown
When you're alone
And life is making you lonely,
You can always go downtown
When you've got worries,
All the noise and the hurry
Seems to help, I know, downtown
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose?
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares and go
And of course much city music was soul music, which often contributed to movements for civil rights--in the north ans well in the south. Click on the song title for the rest of the lyrics.
Living for the City
A boy is born in hard time Mississippi
Surrounded by four walls that ain't so pretty
His parents give him love and affection
To keep him strong moving in the right direction
Living just enough, just enough for the city...ee ha!
His father works some days for fourteen hours
And you can bet he barely makes a dollar
His mother goes to scrub the floor for many
And you'd best believe she hardly gets a penny
Living just enough, just enough for the city...yeah
His sister's black but she is sho 'nuff pretty
Her skirt is short but Lord her legs are sturdy
To walk to school she's got to get up early
Her clothes are old but never are they dirty
Living just enough, just enough for the city...um hum
Her brother's smart he's got more sense than many
His patience's long but soon he won't have any
To find a job is like a haystack needle
Cause where he lives they don't use colored people
This song may remind you of some of the themes in Studs Terkel's Division Street America. All races share American cities, but not always comfortably. Click on the song title for the rest of the lyrics.
