Actually, just an edit to my previous comment: while Baltic and Smith is in Cobble Hill, which is and has been a nice, family oriented neighborhood, NYHA housing is just a block a way. Before the transformation of Smith St in the mid-to-late 90s, I'd imagine it was a little more dicey there at the wrong time of day. Of course, I could be wrong, since I don't have statistics to go on.
Also, this song is really just a Brooklyn scat in a lot of ways. At least, that's how I've always interpreted it.
Actually, just an edit to my previous comment: while Baltic and Smith is in Cobble Hill, which is and has been a nice, family oriented neighborhood, NYHA housing is just a block a way. Before the transformation of Smith St in the mid-to-late 90s, I'd imagine it was a little more dicey there at the wrong time of day. Of course, I could be wrong, since I don't have statistics to go on.
Also, this song is really just a Brooklyn scat in a lot of ways. At least, that's how I've always interpreted it.