Story Behind The Song

I think everyone who's had his or her heart broken always remembers where that happened. It occurred to me when I was thinking about a lyric for this song (which I think has a kind of spooky atmosphere), that those may very well be the places that the living haunt-- when a little piece of us dies from rejection or heartbreak, perhaps that little piece stays behind and forever occupies the place where it happened. A little piece of the fellow in this song died on a streetcorner...

Song Description

This is the story of a man who has his heart broken, and that piece of him remains behind on the streetcorner where it happened to warn others away from the same fate.

Lyrics

We were walking on an ordinary day
In a city of no particular renown
By 3rd, she hadn't said a single word
By Main, she was suggesting sitting down

So we found a place not far from where we stood
And we sat just as my stomach filled with lead,
Though the traffic tried to drown her dragonfire,
I couldn't help but hear the things she said

She said "I'm sorry, but I've had the men that hurt me, lied and cheated endlessly,
And a man like you is better, but too ordinary for the likes of me."

My eyes were shut, my head was spinning wild
I recall, though vaguely, getting to my feet
And then last thing I remember was the pain
Now I'm the Phantom of Main and Ordinary Street

Now, you may not always see me, but I'm always there to whisper in your ear,
That ordinary on this corner is the final word you'll ever hear.

Now, if you happen to come across my place of birth
Well, there's someone that lovers never want to meet
And you better not stop to talk before you cross
'Cause I'm the Phantom of Main and Ordinary Street