Story Behind The Song
Around 1900 to 1920's Atlanta's violence, pimping, drink, drugs, crime, music scene.
The pimps strut their stuff, the girls work, surviving as best they can, broken hearts, deep scars.
Song Description
Sharp suited men strut their stuff, their girls. Pull the strings, do the deals. Fur, pearls, sex hides broken hearts and scars. Music plays, strums and sings through this toxic mix of life and crime. The temperature is 'fever', watch what you say or whisper, it's dangerous out there.
| Song Length |
3:13 |
Genre |
Blues - Country, Blues - Delta |
| Tempo |
Medium Fast (131 - 150) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
| Mood |
Sadistic, Cruel |
Subject |
Violence, Pimp, Prostitute |
| Language |
English |
Era |
1900 - 1920 |
Lyrics
Listen to the street-life, through smoky haze and good -time girls,
they straddle laps and doorways, wearing furs and someone's pearls.
Yeah, though their hearts are broken, tough it out in many ways, and wear
their scars so deep inside, they know the nights, and--sleep--- those days.
Chorus
Can see the pimps and street-wise men, strut their stuff outside again,
now we've strayed so far from where they are, and they call from history,
yeah, they call from history.
The temperature was fever, the drink and drugs flowed free,
the bodies moved mechanically, their puppeteers to see,
oh, stagger 'cross the freeways, linger in the walks,
watch what words might pass your lips, when you start to talk.
Chorus
I can see the pimps and street-wise men, strut their stuff outside again,
now we've strayed from where they are, and they look out from afar,
oh, yeah, from afar, from history, yeah,
oh yeah, they're from afar, from afar,
ooh, we can see where you are.
Oh, the pimps strut their stuff outside,
and they stray so far and wide,
and call from where they once had gone,
and they're history,
oh, they're calling from history,
calling from history,
and that's where they live and see.