Charlyn, Angel Of Kensington Lyrics
Into the streets you set out
With the dispossessed and the broken down
You looked around and saw the need
Dug in your heels, rolled up your sleeves
You were no stranger to the refugee
And you wouldn't let the bully boys get you down
These are your streets from the projects to the sums of Chinatown
From Denison square to the synagogue steps
The shopkeepers and merchants all families of immigrants
Cats sunning on the hoods of parked cars
Children messing 'round in the vacant lots
Fish market woman laughin' out loud
Old Portuguese men hanging 'round
In the ancient smoke of a local bar
You feeding birds right out of your hand
On the sidewalk cafe while the street preacher quotes old testament
I can almost hear the old steel drums ringing out
Courage take courage
For every lonely soul that you lifted up
Pushing out the walls of this neighbourhood
I guess that's why they call you the angel of Kensington
As far as I know this song is actually about Jason Collett's mother in law, who was the first government immigration worker of some sort in Kensington Market, Toronto's funkiest neighborhood, and regular haunt for Broken Social Scene members I believe he lives around there actually. He certainly conveys the feel of the place, whenever I hear this song I feel like I am walking down Augusta st, past St Christopher's house (a shelter, I believe, which still exists but is now sandwiched between a hip bar and a vegan sandwich joint...) past the vegetable stand, past the empanada place and the Hungarian Thai restaurant... Makes me miss Toronto.
This track is so different from the country vibe that was so typical for him before Here's to Being Here. It was sort of jarring for me at first, but I've really fallen in love with the album as a whole. This track is one of the best though.
And I guess if we're talking meaning it's straightforward. This woman is more than likely an orphan ("from St. Christopher's house, into the streets you set out" seems to imply this) who's fully invested herself in her city and in the people in it, essentially building her own family out of these masses.