2 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
West Side Highway Lyrics
There's a million Jews in New York
And I'm one of them
There's a million stars in the sky
And a million cars on the west side highway
Back at home,I didn't feel this free
Up and down the boulevard I could hear them scream
Hey faggot! How much?
I'm gonna kick your ass motherfucker!
But I held my head up high
Let them suffocate and die
In their ordinary lives
There's two hundred punks in the park
And I'm one of them
There's a place to go
After all these years of feeling alone
Back at home walking down the street
People pull their kids aside
Like I was some kind of disease
But as much as I tried to hide
And plug my ears it hurt inside
It curled up and wounded my pride
There's a million Jews in New York
And I'm one of them
There's a million stars in the sky
And a million cars on the west side highway
As I ride, I can feel the street
Like a river it flows rapidly
Through the city it propels
Me towards a tragic bloody crash oh well
An inch from death seems to be
The only place to find some peace
The only place to ride a bike
Feel alive and find a sense of pride
And dignity
And I'm one of them
There's a million stars in the sky
And a million cars on the west side highway
Up and down the boulevard I could hear them scream
Hey faggot! How much?
I'm gonna kick your ass motherfucker!
But I held my head up high
Let them suffocate and die
In their ordinary lives
And I'm one of them
There's a place to go
After all these years of feeling alone
Back at home walking down the street
People pull their kids aside
Like I was some kind of disease
But as much as I tried to hide
And plug my ears it hurt inside
It curled up and wounded my pride
And I'm one of them
There's a million stars in the sky
And a million cars on the west side highway
Like a river it flows rapidly
Through the city it propels
Me towards a tragic bloody crash oh well
An inch from death seems to be
The only place to find some peace
The only place to ride a bike
Feel alive and find a sense of pride
And dignity
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I guess this song is about life for those people who get pushed around a lot and treated differently than other people. The Jews were harrassed with name-calling ("'Hey faggot!'" for example) while punks are almost treated like they're escaped fugitives, when in actuallity they are no different from anyone else. So, in short, this song discusses the mistreatment of people who are deemed "different" than others. In my opinion, that is :)
This song makes me think of a young punk kid during the eighties when the punk scene was roaring, coming from a little midwestern town where he was made fun of, and comparing it to New York... the home of the Ramones, Sonic Youth, east coast hardcore, squat houses, etc... and being like, I'm free now.
I'm not crazy about Billie Joe appropriating the antisemitism that exists in New York, though. He's not Jewish. Neither am I. We shouldn't say we're one of them.
Billie Joe, next time you're in New York, how about a lyrical change? There's a million cops in New York, and I hate all of them ;) then we can spark up a bowl and muse over good times past.
Still love ya, BJ. I think you're punk as fuck and PHG is rad.
@Tig45 Did I really just list off New York's punk cred and forget CBGB's? Yikes! Too bad the eighties were pre-Leftover Crack and Nausea, but at least Reagan Youth was around back then.
@Tig45 Did I really just list off New York's punk cred and forget CBGB's? Yikes! Too bad the eighties were pre-Leftover Crack and Nausea, but at least Reagan Youth was around back then.
@Tig45 Well this is years old and as big as GD is, not many people are aware of PHGP.
@Tig45 Well this is years old and as big as GD is, not many people are aware of PHGP.
If i may, I don't think you have to worry about Billie appropriating jewish culture, as that line was likely penned by another memeber of PHGP. From what I can remember, it was a collective effort and Billie wasn't necessarily the main songwriter.
If i may, I don't think you have to worry about Billie appropriating jewish culture, as that line was likely penned by another memeber of PHGP. From what I can remember, it was a collective effort and Billie wasn't necessarily the main songwriter.
I think it is most likely Aaron Cometbus (drummer), who is listed under "jews in punk" on wiki. On his wikipedia page, they have quotes of him describing his life, essentially he wanted to leave his hometown and...
I think it is most likely Aaron Cometbus (drummer), who is listed under "jews in punk" on wiki. On his wikipedia page, they have quotes of him describing his life, essentially he wanted to leave his hometown and hit the road and eventually ended up settling in... you guessed it, New York. It sounds like this place felt like home to him. It's possible that Jason White also wrote it, if you are correct about that 'escaping a small town" vibe, as he is from little rock, Arkansas. I'm really glad i listened to them growing up, though I missed a couple of albums. Something about their sound and essence just really hits me.