Album: What!What?What!?
Year: 2010
Artist Website: Tanika Charles Bandcamp
Location: Queen and Jameson
The Story: “My Parkdale experience was no joke! I was so excited to have found an inexpensive apartment, with 2 of my closest friends, within walking distance from work..I had NO IDEA of the lasting effects from living in the area would have on me. Jameson and Queen was HECTIC in 2007 and also eye opening.I moved to Toronto in 2007 and it was rough. This song is about moving to this “popular” area in downtown Toronto and the reality of just getting by! Always active all hours of the day. Sometimes, in the wee hours of the morning, you may hear a scream. Drug induced? Despair? Happiness? Or, right outside of our window, a rally, in support of Tibetans and their plight..(Same year I found out Toronto, Parkdale in particular, is home to one of the largest Tibetan communities in North America!) The bed bug outbreak..traumatized! Just the everyday goings on in the neighbourhood.
It definitely holds a special place in my heart. Before we moved into our new place this November, I was trying to plant the West End seed in my partners head. Complaining about distance, that everything I do, my friends, work, shows, EVERYTHING is downtown. To no avail. Blank stare. I’m an Eastender now..and I love it.”
-Tanika Charles
Lyrics:
Woke up in the usual way
Whole world looking the same
Lookin’ in on my day to day
Money I make “BURNS AWAY”
Gotta pay,rent today
Wanna make moves but I can’t
Your love keeps me sane
Love to love you but I gotta get paid
Paid, paid working on the chain gang
Working downtown on Queen
I gotta get paid
I gotta get paid
Working on the chain gang
Living in Parkdale
AHHH Living in Parkdale
Grab my bike
Hit the pave
Roll to Fresh
Got a shake
(Hey girl, isn’t that Tyrone from ‘round the way)
We got to chatting but I couldn’t stay
Wanna say, to you babe
You’re the one that takes the cake
My world’s good today
Glad to love you but I gotta get paid
Paid, paid working on the chain gang
Working downtown on Queen
I gotta get paid
I gotta get paid
Working on the chain gang
Living in Parkdale