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Chicago Promenade Lyrics
My door is locked, my debts are paid
I'll do the Chicago promenade
My back was turned I did not see
That shadow climbing up on me
I took my turn at fixing hearts
But that goes bad before it starts
I'm desperate now, I must say
I'll do the Chicago promenade
If I die now before I'm old
My story will be less than told
There's so much more to suffer through
Before I meet again with you
I've tried so hard and
I've been so blind
I thought we could all grieve one at a time
I lost a friend, it felt like five
A man who wouldn't compromise
I'll think of him on New Year's Day
And do the Chicago promenade
One of my favorites on the first album. Isbell has said it's about the death of his grandfather, which happened when he was playing a show in Chicago.
I figure he's using Chicago Promenade as a metaphor for either suicide or just death in general. I didn't find any suicide rate increases til 2010 so the catalyst for creation is still unknown. Could be alluding to the organized crime in Chicago and dancing with them? Then I thought maybe the death of Jay Bennett of Wilco fame and an of again an on again Chicago resident maybe a clue, but the song was written before his death and his death was sudden.
Good thing is sometimes I've heard Jason in interviews and he'd allude to kinda what he was thinking, either way...I'm gonna make this one my own bandaid for loss. Derek