Story Behind The Song

Song inspired by the sight of a group of teenage male prostitutes hanging out in pioneer Square, Portland, Oregon, a couple years ago. Several of them appeared to be copying the petulant style of James Dean...chinos, T-shirt, hair. I found myself asking "whose kids are these?" but couldn't come up with an answer...hence the song.

Song Description

It's about the lives and deaths of young male prostitutes who hang out on the city corners in the summer heat.

Lyrics

BOYS ON THE CORNER


Drive through the city on a hot summer night
Gonna take in the show, gonna see the sights
Boys on the corner walking real slow
Looking your way, see how the wind blows

See the young James Dean with a give-a-shit-grin
Took a year to get it right, now he reels 'em in
Man=s 50 years dead but the legend's still bright
His ghost is in the shadows watching the boys tonight


Boys on the corner, drinking cheap wine
They've got stories but they haven't got time Like all good children, seen but not heard
Who are their fathers? Salt of the earth

The middle-aged men they're afraid of the bars
Wearing suits and ties driving family cars
Internet junkies they fantasize, about doing things
They can't do with their wives

Boys on the corner, sniffing whatever
Life is good, going to live forever
Selling themselves for whatever its worth
Who are their customers? Salt of the earth


Fishing from limos with blackout windows
Faces we=ve seen in the magazines
After slow-eyed, backside, don=t tell boys
Popping little blue pills in between


Boys on the corner, hearing the voices
Of college kids weighing the choices
Tell their friends they=re out chasing skirt
Fraternity brothers....salt of the earth


Yellow tape blows in the streetlight glow
Another load for the wagon
Overdose, who knows, case closed
Coroner pulls the bag on


Boys on the corner, sharing the text
Don=t matter what happened, don=t care who=s next
Strange flowers growing in the city dirt
Who planted the gardens? Salt of the earth


8 Richard McLaughlin 2010