Lyric discussion by foreverdrone 

Cover art for Long Vermont Roads lyrics by Magnetic Fields, The

there's an odd character--slightly famous (certainly not for anything he's done), but only in certain circles in the city where I live --who often says with dark humor how he lives at the intersection of Misery and Failing.

my city really does have a Failing St, but of course the other street is named Missouri

(we also have a "Failing Ped Bridge", which of course is how Failing St pedestrians get across the Interstate)