On The Streets Tonight

A bracingly cold walk in the bubblewrap shadow of Selfridge's brought back a song that used to be one of my busking favourites about ten years ago (in the days when sitting on a hard pavement with a guitar in these kind of temperatures was my principle source of income). It's by Justin Sane, and though I hadn't listened to it for years before getting home this evening, it's transported me right back to a time when, despite my life being hugely complicated, a lot of things just seemed so much simpler.


On the streets tonight, oh yeah, on the streets tonight
On the streets tonight, that's where I'll be found
'Cause I don't wanna go home
I want to hang out with my friends, I want to hang with you

Where the city is at peace at 5am
As over the rooftops rises the sun
Yeah, we've been here all night long
Lost in endless talk, and our love songs

There are nights when these sidewalks feel like home
And the bright street light is a crystal chandelier
Sipping a cup of coffee until the bakery opens its doors
Then a fresh baked loaf of bread, and it's off to bed

Where I dream that I am on the streets at night
And I've never felt more perfect or in tune
With the city, with my friends
With the cops on the corner

Then a stray red dog sits down right next to me
And explains the finer points of fresco painting
He's been studying six years
He says that's forty-two years' experience for humans

Wake up in the afternoon
Pick up the phone, I'm dialling you
I'll catch you at six, for some Chinese and some Eighties karaoke

And then we'll set up on the sidewalks
Where we'll sing our songs
All night long