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138th Street Lyrics

I hear that you got yourself a house
All your friends you've finally figured out
But you go out in the night, 'til you got no place to go
I see you on the corner where you're trying to use the phone
Everyone will say you've missed your chance
Everyone will say you've lost your edge
It's just something that you've heard about a thousand times before
And every time you're falling then you'll see me on the floor
And someday when you turn around,
You'll take a wife, and start a life.
It won't be long
Won't be long

I hear that you got yourself a job
All your friends you've finally nailed down
But you go out in the night, 'til you got no place to go
Something you ain't doin' right is haunting you at home
Now we've been hangin' round for quite a while
So let's get out of here and take a drive
On the parkway tonight
You can hear the engines roar
The flashing lights will nab you when you're driving your way home
And someday when you turn around, you'll see the door is closing.
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8 Meanings

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Cover art for 138th Street lyrics by Walkmen, The

Nice song. Seems to be his take on Dylan (the title, the sound, the lyrics)

Cover art for 138th Street lyrics by Walkmen, The

now that you mention it it does sound alot like dylan.

Cover art for 138th Street lyrics by Walkmen, The

The Walkmen's Marcata Studios is on 133rd Street. Possibly an old apartment, or that of a friend.

Cover art for 138th Street lyrics by Walkmen, The

"a thousand time before" should be "a thousand times before"

Cover art for 138th Street lyrics by Walkmen, The

Kinda reminds me of the boss too.

Cover art for 138th Street lyrics by Walkmen, The

This song makes me think of someone who used to be a bit of a fuck up, either drank too much or did too many drugs, whatever, and he finally stopped all of his nonsense and grew up and settled down, but his old "friends" are telling him he sold out or gave up the party life for a house with a white picket fence, and sometimes he feels that old life calling to him.

Or, this song also makes me think of someone who is gay but is trying to be "straight" and maybe his old lover has heard about this and knows it's just a facade and it's going to make him unhappy, and he catches him at some of the gay bars/clubs, when he should be at home with his family.

Cover art for 138th Street lyrics by Walkmen, The

To add to my previous comment; either way, I think it's about someone not living the life they think they should.

Cover art for 138th Street lyrics by Walkmen, The

Great song.

[I lived in 139th street ...They have the best Cuban sandwiches in 138th street...]