Album: New Wild Everywhere
Year: 2012
Artist Website: www.greatlakeswimmers.com
Location: Queen and Dowling
The Story: “I lived near the corner of Dowling and Queen St. for several years, which is where the song was written as an ode to the neighbourhood. I spent many nights on my front stoop talking to my neighbours and random people in the neighbourhood. I learned a lot about the history of the place, and one doesn’t need to dig very deep to learn how much it has always been the “wild west” of Toronto. The song is somewhat based on overheard conversations in that area. On its best days, it was like a slightly more intense Sesame Street, and on other days (especially nights) it could be a little darker. It’s an inspiring place to watch urban nature taking its course, and my little corner was crucial to writing the Great Lake Swimmers album “New Wild Everywhere.” Some important spots to me were The Good Catch, CAMH, the community housing at Dowling and Queen, Mezzrows, The Sister (formerly Mitzi’s Sister), and other places.”
-Tony Dekker
Lyrics:
A neighbor says it’s been around years since the 70’s
Knows all of the people, studied all their features arbitrarily
Says it’s entertaining, the city block container once was proud
They’re all passing through your sharpened point of view with their heads in the clouds
But I hear them late at night, getting into fights
Calling into the dark. Are you there? You’ve got something for me
Parkdale blues. Heard it on the news
Transmissions from the eye of the storm
Parkdale blues. All its made abuse
When they’re down you fly up to escape
They escape
I’m looking for a light. All gritting at the light. Maybe some change
The lift within the eyes, with gravity defied, I can tell it’s no good
See what you can find to satisfy your mind in the name I heard
How can they be so gone? And they’ve been here so long, living all of this
They’d sing in a language I don’t fully understand
Talk so loud and sweats a rock when the heat comes around
Parkdale blues. Heard it on the news
Transmissions from the eye of the storm
Parkdale blues. All its made abuse
When we’re down we fly up to escape
We escape