In Brooklyn
Exploring Cosmic Connections in the Heart of Brooklyn
Lyrics
Oh I come from Pittsburgh to study astrology
Character expresses coming from Pittsburgh with an interest in astrology.
She said as she stepped on my instep
Reference to a woman stepping on the speaker's instep.
I could show you New York with a walk between Fourth Street and Nine
She offers to show New York by walking between Fourth Street and Nine.
Then out of her coat taking seven harmonicas
She takes out seven harmonicas from her coat.
She sat down to play on a doorstep
She plays harmonicas while sitting on a doorstep.
Saying, Come back to my place I will show you the stars and the signs
Invites the speaker to her place to show the stars and signs.
So I followed her into the black lands
The speaker follows her into a less affluent area referred to as the black lands.
Where the window frames peel and flake
Description of the deteriorating window frames in the black lands.
And the old Jewish face behind the lace
Observation of an old Jewish face behind lace curtains.
Even now trying to get to see what's cooking
Reference to someone (John the Baptist) in the park engaged in a private act, thinking they are unseen.
Just John the Baptist in the park getting laid thinking there's no-one looking
The speaker acknowledges the temperature (eighty degrees) and his position in Brooklyn.
And its eighty degrees and I'm down on my knees in Brooklyn
The speaker is in a compromising position, possibly metaphorical, in Brooklyn.
Her house was a dusty collection of rusty
Description of the woman's house as a chaotic collection of items.
Confusion with landings and tunnels
Details about the confusion in her house, including landings, tunnels, and leaning bookcases.
And leaning bookcases and spaces and faces and things
Listing various elements found in her house, emphasizing disorder.
Where twenty-five Puerto Ricans, Manhattan Mohicans
Reference to people of different backgrounds living theatrical lives in adjacent rooms.
And Jewish-Italian Pawnbrokers
Mention of Puerto Ricans, Manhattan Mohicans, and Jewish-Italian Pawnbrokers.
Lead their theatrical lives in their rooms in the wings
They lead theatrical lives in their rooms, comparable to being in the wings of a theater.
While outside in the black lands
Back in the black lands, describing a chaotic and unpredictable environment.
The violent day runs wild
Reference to the wildness of the violent day in the black lands.
And the black and white minstrels run through the crazy
Black and white minstrels running through crazy alleys.
Alleys while the cops go booking
Police officers making arrests, contrasting with the chaos in the alleys.
And ruthless toothless agents sneak around and there's no-one looking
Agents sneaking around without being noticed.
And it's eighty degrees and I'm down on my knees in Brooklyn
Reiteration of the temperature and the speaker's compromised position in Brooklyn.
And oh, I'm back in the city again
The speaker acknowledges being back in the city, indicated by familiar smells.
You can tell by the smell of the hamburger stand in the rain
Description of the smell of a hamburger stand in the rain.
She spoke of astrology while muttering apologies
She talks about astrology while apologizing for the taste of the coffee.
For coffee that tasted of hot dogs
Reference to coffee tasting like hot dogs, a peculiar detail.
I said, That's OK, mine was cold anyway, and just grand
Speaker expresses acceptance of the situation, making light of the coffee quality.
Then she lay on the bed while the radio fed
The woman lies on the bed while the radio plays records and cat food adverts.
Us with records and adverts for cat food
Description of the setting with records and advertisements for cat food playing.
And I looked at her, holding my thoughts in the palm of my hand
The speaker reflects on the woman while holding thoughts in their hand.
And outside in the black lands
Evening arrives in the black lands.
The evening came and went
Description of the evening passing without significant events.
And the bums in the street begging money for one last drink
Beggars in the street seeking money for a final drink.
Are hanging round the liquor stores trying to get a foot in
Beggars trying to gain access to liquor stores in the black lands.
And the girl from Pittsburgh and I made love on a mattress with the new moon looking
The speaker and the woman from Pittsburgh make love on a mattress with the new moon in view.
And in the cool evening breeze I was down on my knees in Brooklyn
The act takes place in the cool evening breeze, and the speaker is again down on their knees in Brooklyn.
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