Rated 0 The song is about the arrival of all the Puerto Ricans a few decades ago. (pun intended) The capitol if PR is San Juan which translstes to Saint John. They were told the streets were paved with gold (so to speak) But when they got to New York, it was not all it was cracked up to be. References include: "...wearing coats that shine boath red & green; colors from their sunny island" and "the memory of their Southern sky was clouded by a savage winter" "they are hounded down to the bottom of a bad town amid the ruins"
@lisalambchop This is more a reply to Mumajor's comment. Isn't the "how they are paid in gold just to babble in the back room.." line actually a story that the immigrants tell in letters back home in order to "save face" or put a brave front on things? I think the song makes it clear that it's just a "tale" - "now the tale is told by the old man back home, he reads the letter". If you think of it like that then the song is even more poignant.
@lisalambchop This is more a reply to Mumajor's comment. Isn't the "how they are paid in gold just to babble in the back room.." line actually a story that the immigrants tell in letters back home in order to "save face" or put a brave front on things? I think the song makes it clear that it's just a "tale" - "now the tale is told by the old man back home, he reads the letter". If you think of it like that then the song is even more poignant.
@lisalambchop I’m not saying anyone is wrong with their interpretation but when I first heard this song I imagined they were talking of people from Africa. However I have to admit that the timeline doesn’t fit. So I have to rethink my theory. The song could be about any of the poor and huddled masses that arrived but hat doesn’t really fit either. So after some lengthy thought I would have to agree that it is probably about the influx of Puerto Rican’s coming to America. Thank you for your time.
@lisalambchop I’m not saying anyone is wrong with their interpretation but when I first heard this song I imagined they were talking of people from Africa. However I have to admit that the timeline doesn’t fit. So I have to rethink my theory. The song could be about any of the poor and huddled masses that arrived but hat doesn’t really fit either. So after some lengthy thought I would have to agree that it is probably about the influx of Puerto Rican’s coming to America. Thank you for your time.
@lisalambchop First time here, just joined so bear with me - I fell the "paid in gold just to babble in back rooms is about drug use. i.e opium dens etc - the "gold" is the dope to keep them subverted and hopeless.
@lisalambchop First time here, just joined so bear with me - I fell the "paid in gold just to babble in back rooms is about drug use. i.e opium dens etc - the "gold" is the dope to keep them subverted and hopeless.
lisalambchop 1 hr 31 min ago
Rated 0 The song is about the arrival of all the Puerto Ricans a few decades ago. (pun intended) The capitol if PR is San Juan which translstes to Saint John. They were told the streets were paved with gold (so to speak) But when they got to New York, it was not all it was cracked up to be. References include: "...wearing coats that shine boath red & green; colors from their sunny island" and "the memory of their Southern sky was clouded by a savage winter" "they are hounded down to the bottom of a bad town amid the ruins"
Adding to lisalambchop's comment: "...where they learn to fear an angry race of fallen kings" - the black population in NYC.
Adding to lisalambchop's comment: "...where they learn to fear an angry race of fallen kings" - the black population in NYC.
Not sure, but "how they are paid in gold to babble in the back room..." reference to welfare? Either that or organized crime...
Not sure, but "how they are paid in gold to babble in the back room..." reference to welfare? Either that or organized crime...
@lisalambchop This is more a reply to Mumajor's comment. Isn't the "how they are paid in gold just to babble in the back room.." line actually a story that the immigrants tell in letters back home in order to "save face" or put a brave front on things? I think the song makes it clear that it's just a "tale" - "now the tale is told by the old man back home, he reads the letter". If you think of it like that then the song is even more poignant.
@lisalambchop This is more a reply to Mumajor's comment. Isn't the "how they are paid in gold just to babble in the back room.." line actually a story that the immigrants tell in letters back home in order to "save face" or put a brave front on things? I think the song makes it clear that it's just a "tale" - "now the tale is told by the old man back home, he reads the letter". If you think of it like that then the song is even more poignant.
@lisalambchop I’m not saying anyone is wrong with their interpretation but when I first heard this song I imagined they were talking of people from Africa. However I have to admit that the timeline doesn’t fit. So I have to rethink my theory. The song could be about any of the poor and huddled masses that arrived but hat doesn’t really fit either. So after some lengthy thought I would have to agree that it is probably about the influx of Puerto Rican’s coming to America. Thank you for your time.
@lisalambchop I’m not saying anyone is wrong with their interpretation but when I first heard this song I imagined they were talking of people from Africa. However I have to admit that the timeline doesn’t fit. So I have to rethink my theory. The song could be about any of the poor and huddled masses that arrived but hat doesn’t really fit either. So after some lengthy thought I would have to agree that it is probably about the influx of Puerto Rican’s coming to America. Thank you for your time.
@lisalambchop
@lisalambchop
@lisalambchop First time here, just joined so bear with me - I fell the "paid in gold just to babble in back rooms is about drug use. i.e opium dens etc - the "gold" is the dope to keep them subverted and hopeless.
@lisalambchop First time here, just joined so bear with me - I fell the "paid in gold just to babble in back rooms is about drug use. i.e opium dens etc - the "gold" is the dope to keep them subverted and hopeless.