We’ve always enjoyed the rock poetry of Garland Jeffreys, especially Wild in the Streets (1973) and Hail Hail Rock ‘N’ Roll (1992). The good news is “The King Of In Between,” his first album in 13 years, will be released this spring. The Brooklyn-born singer songwriter grew up in Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach and Coney Island, and his new single “Coney Island Winter” riffs on the 22 stops to the City from his boyhood home. The lyrics, which are posted below, are as sharp and biting as the wind on the Boardwalk. Give a listen…
“Coney Island Winter” by Garland Jeffreys
Vanity strikes
Humility speaks
Insanity lives on the edge of the streets
This is a story, it happens every day
Politicians kiss my ass
Your promises they break like glass
Royalty looks down
Me, I want to kiss the ground
Twenty-two stops to the city
Twenty-two stops to the city
Twenty-two stops to the city
Twenty-two stops
Freezin’ cold no time to weep
Boardwalk’s dead on a midnight creep
It’s colder than a polar bear
But I don’t care
Coney Island Winter
Coney Island Winter
Woman walks down the street
Tears come rollin’ down her face
Frozen on her cheeks
Steeplechase, no time to waste
Heaven blessed, heaven sent
Hark the angels, can’t pay the rent
Jobs are gone, they came and went
All the money has been spent
All the games are broken down
Rust is fallin’ to the ground
They say they’re going to fix this town
Straight from City Hall
Coney Island winter
Coney Island winter
Last stop off for the Iron Horse
Ride shuts down on a winter course
Round and round, round and round
On the Ferris Wheel comes to a stop
Standin’ on Mermaid and Surf
Shutters have been shut
Colder than a knife that cut
Streets of summer
Coney Island strut
I’m on a mission of my own
Don’t wanna die on stage
With a microphone in my hand
Coney Island winter
Coney Island winter
Coney Island winter
Coney Island winter
© Garland Jeffreys
You can download “Coney Island Winter” on itunes or Amazon via links on Garland Jeffreys’ website. Jeffreys is scheduled to perform at Stony Brook University (March 20), the Highline Ballroom (April 30) and Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble in Woodstock (May 7). Hail Hail Rock ‘N’ Roll! Here’s a classic performance via YouTube…
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I’m a big Garland Jeffreys fan – saw him a couple times at Bottom Line or some such Villagey place, back in the days of Wild in the Streets. So glad to know of new album – looks & sounds like he hasn’t lost a beat or his edge. Thanks for the post.
Yes! I’m looking forward to upcoming album & shows. Enjoyed discovering all the vids on YouTube too. The images on the Wild in the Streets vid are a trip back to NYC in the 1970s
Love Garland J!
Garland Jeffreys still rocks! Great lead-off single from his new album. “Politicians kiss my ass!”
Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history – Plato
I bought “Wild in the Streets” when I was a sophomore in high school in Peoria, Illinois. I can’t wait for the new album to be released! Thanks for posting this song, it’s great!
Garland Jeffreys is The Man – just bought tix for his show at the Highline next week (April 30th). Coney Island Winter is a cool song! Vid’s on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-Ur3wi97tk