The Wallflowers – 6th Avenue Heartache

Song

"6th Avenue Heartache" is a song by the American rock band The Wallflowers.

It was released in April 1996 as the lead single from their 1996 sophomore album Bringing Down the Horse. The song became their first hit, peaking at number 8 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart, number 10 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and number 33 on the US Hot 100 Airplay chart. The background vocals in this song are by Adam Duritz from Counting Crows. Though the song was a hit on rock radio, it was overshadowed by its follow-up single, "One Headlight".

Background and writing

Jakob Dylan, the band's lead singer, wrote the song when he was 18 years old and considers it the first real song he had written. It was meant to go on their self-titled first album, but the record company would not allow it.

The lyrics are based on Dylan's own experiences while living in New York City, in particular the story of a homeless man who would sit outside Dylan's window and play the same songs every day. One day, the man was gone, but his things were still there, until gradually people started taking them.

Mike Campbell from Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers played the slide guitar on the song, though he recorded the track in his own studio and never even met the band members.

Music video

The video, shot in New York, was directed by movie director David Fincher, known for such films as Seven and Fight Club. There is a slight error in the video: Rama's Cafe, portrayed as a meeting place for the band, was actually on 281 5th Avenue, not 6th Avenue. The building was eventually demolished, and a new apartment building is in the process of being constructed on the site.

Album

Bringing Down the Horse è il secondo album in studio del gruppo rock statunitense The Wallflowers, pubblicato nel 1996.

Artist

I Wallflowers sono una rock band statunitense di Los Angeles, California. Il leader del gruppo, Jakob Dylan, è figlio di Bob Dylan, dal quale, pur avendo ereditato una simile liricità della voce, si discosta artisticamente nel genere di musica seguito.

Sirens ring, the shots ring out
A stranger cries, screams out loud
I had my world strapped against my back
I held my hands, never knew how to act

(chorus)
And the same black line that was drawn on you
Was drawn on me
And now it's drawn me in
6th Avenue heartache

Below me was a homeless man
I'm singin' songs I knew complete
On the steps alone, his guitar in hand
It's fifty years, stood where he stands

(chorus)(x2)

Now walkin' home on those streets
The river winds move my feet
Subway steam, like silhouettes in dreams
They stood by me, just like moonbeams

(chorus)(x2)

Look out the window, down upon that street
And gone like a midnight was that man
But I see his six strings laid against that wall
And all his things, they all look so small
I got my fingers crossed on a shooting star
Just like me-just moved on

(chorus)(x3)

Sirene anello, i colpi risuonano
Un estraneo grida, urla ad alta voce
Avevo il mio mondo legato contro la mia schiena
Ho tenuto le mie mani, non sapevo come agire

(rit.)
E la stessa linea nera che è stato disegnato su di voi
È stato disegnato su di me
E ora mi sta disegnato in
6th Avenue Heartache

Sotto di me c'era un uomo senza fissa dimora
Sto cantando canzoni che conoscevo completo
Sul solo i passi, la sua chitarra in mano
E 'cinquant'anni, sorgeva dove si trova

(rit.)(x2)

Ora a casa a piedi su quelle strade
Il fiume si snoda muovono i piedi
a vapore della metropolitana, come sagome in sogni
Rimasero da me, proprio come raggi di luna

(rit.)(x2)

Guardare fuori dalla finestra, giù su quella strada
E andata come una mezzanotte era che l'uomo
Ma io vedo le sue sei corde poste contro il muro
E tutte le sue cose, sembrano tutti così piccoli
Ho ottenuto il mio dita incrociate su una stella cadente
Proprio come me-appena trasferita su

(rit.)(x3)