So narrow and weak, why don't you tell me the truth if you can?
Kick out my spokes and set me sprawled on the schoolyard
I'm not too broke I'm just relaxed because I work hard
Well you know, I can't imagine things from her side of the sidewalk
If I just ride right through, what is a neighborhood?
I take my time so that I can drive better
I close my eyes and verify to the letter, well you know,
You know I try, I try to get around,
But from 95, what is a neighborhood?
What is a neighborhood?
You know this ride is nothing without you along
But I'm just riding away
Towards a house where I can sleep, and I can smoke in the bedroom
Like a housemate should in my neighborhood
I've got a ride that says that I take this out of state
But what does it mean if I don't go your way?
Press a prayer on a penny down by the rest stop
I've got so many and you keep me from spending them all
You know I try to save a few like I should
From 95, this is your neighborhood
This is your neighborhood
You know this ride is nothing without you along
Drive, drive, drive, 95
Drive, drive, drive, 95
Melnea Cass Blvd (not "Milmea") is a major street in the Roxbury section of Boston. I guess "95" refers to the highway (Interstate 95), but that doesn't cut through Boston -- I-93 does. Maybe Geoff didn't like the way "Drive 93" sounded...
Either way, it's a great song.
Perhaps 95 refers to the year 1995? This song was released in 1996 too
yeah, it's definitely Melnea Casss. If you're in that "college town" area of Boston you can get on tremont and then hop on Melnea Cass, it's pretty much "get the fuck out of the city time" from there.
"Well you know I can't imagine things from her side of the sidewalk. If I just ride right through that, what is a neighborhood? I take my time so I can drive better. I close my eyes and verify to the letter. Well you know, you know I try. I try to get around, but from 95, what is a neighborhood, what is a neighborhood. 95 is nothing without you, you know this ride is nothing without you along."
that whole part makes me think that he's no longer in his or any "neighborhood". Maybe on tour?
So, my take: It's about a person who travels down 95 (hell, probably in the year 1995!) making money playing music or otherwise. However, he is looking forward to coming back home, where he can just relax and smoke in his bedroom with all the little freedoms and comforts that keep people from getting out of their routine and "neighborhood."
"Press a prayer on a penny down by the rest stop. I've got so many and you keep me from spending them all." - Constantly being on the road really restricts a persons spending, especially as a traveling musician with minimal tour support.
that last little "...Drive, Drive 95" part could represent the repetition of the driving and lifestyle.
Maybe I'm digging too deep, but that's how i see it.