M79

Analysis from a New Yorker's perspective:

Where would you find a place that references the things cited in the "M79" in Manhattan?

The Culture Center, of the Upper West Side of Manhattan, is right on the M79 bus route, on Columbus Avenue, between 79th and 80th. There is a Buddha statue on second floor. There is a glass arch way at the building entrance, after which you have to walk up several flights of stairs to get the Culture Center.

culturecenterny.org/pop4.htm culturecenterny.org/pop6.htm culturecenterny.org/sitemap.html

There are 3 ways to get across Central Park from the Upper East Side of Manhattan to the Upper West Side:

1. The M79 bus.
2. A taxi cab (all yellow, unless they're gypsy cabs).
3. A cycle rickshaw.

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So who does the song refer to when saying they "would not stay"?

The Culture Center in Manhattan, produced a documentary called, "Explorer: The Life of Bruce Klepinger" who was a mountain guide, who traveled across Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, the Himalaya's, and who would most definitely have crossed the Khyber Pass. Klepinger also wrote a book called, "The Arc of Life" which is about his travels in this region of the world. Klepinger would likely have worn madra cotton clothes (which are not colorfast, so their colors bleed to a different color on every wash), which are worn in that part of the world. Klepinger, is the ultimate vagabond, he's never stayed in one place too long, "So go, I know you would not stay..."

culturecenterny.org/about.html

The mission of the Culture Center is to "produces events designed to promote community and cultural exchange." A definite, anti-hate (based on race, religion, gender identification) type of agenda.

You could imagine that an American (like Klepinger) would have to use their charm to traverse the Khyber Pass, between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The M79 is one of the few buses that crosses Central Park and connects the Upper West Side to the Upper East Side of Manhattan; like the Khyber Pass does for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

If you ever ride a bus in NYC, you'll see that people line up in a row to get on... cutting is frowned upon.

Mostly coincidence? Probably, but interesting trivia nonetheless.

OTHER NOTES:

Ezra Koenig was born on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, but his parents moved him to Manhattan, and he has no memory of the UWS when he was young. But he did attend Columbia, which is on the UWS, and about 2 miles from the Culture Center, which is on Columbus Avenue.

Rostam Batmanglij's parents are from Iran, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan (which is where the Khyber Pass connects. He's also openly gay. Only he knows why he mentions Jackson Crowther.

There is a restaurant called Khyber Pass, but it's in the East Village part of Manhattan, and isn't even close to the M79. They supposedly serve Afghan food, but that's highly debated. I've never been there.

And yes, I've ridden on the back of the M79 many times.

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