Songs of Days Gone By 02 - 60 Seconds on 59th

Download 60_Seconds_on_59th.mp3 This song was a bit strange from the moment the music and lyrics came together. I normally write lyrics before music and the lyrics for this one are really depressing. The music, however, is rather upbeat. Don't remember if there was motivation for this intentionally or not.  The song starts with a brief notice of a man committing suicide by hanging off the 59th Street Bridge (not feeling groovy). The remainder of the song talks about the minute which follows from the people who witness the event and how they deal with what they have witnessed. 60 seconds on 59th Hector tests his slip knot on crossbeam 17 on the darker side of the 59th Street Bridge Esmerelda Jones heads home in her ’83 Corrolla Oblivious to the crosshairs on her hood Funky Phil assumed a groovy staggered lamppost slalom and spied a shadow perched akimbo on the iron tightrope Slipping on the cobblestones a headlight bore down on him Banshee tires scream to silence inches from his head Hector will you take a flying leap through open air Square yourself for impact as you wonder how to fly Cry a sullen lullaby as flurries still the night Frightened take a second breath while hair stands on your neck Hold your eyes high happy people, don’t look down ‘cause a foul wind’s making troubled waters churn below Colder skies are building up the mother of all storms and I think that all our hopes are gonna drown Charlie Graham from Birmingham torched the garbage can and huddled shivering over tubed inferno Heard the rubber squeal and the metal monster groaning then someone slipping off the rail and falling into nothing. Esmerelda held her breath while helping Phil erect whereupon their awestruck gaze caught Hector tumble over A wail rose from behind as Charlie overtook them collapsing at the top of the human pendulum Hold your eyes high happy people, don’t look down ‘cause a foul wind’s making troubled waters churn below Colder skies are building up the mother of all storms and I think that all our hopes are gonna drown Footpatrolman Dan O’Shea saw the defeated silhouette from the frozen headlights on the other side Waxed in indecision watched the stark tableau unfold as though he’d no position to intrude Head over heels the horizon in tow With the city lights spinning in ostinato Illumination in streaked oscillation Amorphus glow starts to slow down Hector swayed with the melting wind and froze a final scene The concrete tumblers locked within his sight Esmerelda Jones withdrew into safe warm place and never crossed the bridge again at night Hold your eyes high happy people, don’t look down ‘cause a foul wind’s making troubled waters churn below Colder skies are building up the mother of all storms and I think that all our hopes are gonna drown