locust street

Locust Street is off tbc's latest album, Warpaint, which is a revival and reunion of the band in so many ways. The album is stellar and if you haven't listened to it already, what are you waiting for? The first few times I listened to Warpaint, Locust Street is the song that stood out to me. Is it the melody? Probably. But I think it's also the intro-- the twangy guitar contrasts perfectly with Chris' voice in this song...he's almost subdued, just letting the music wash over you.

The other great thing about Locust Street is the lyrics, and the meaning Chris attributes to them. Essentially Locust Street is about that other America, the one that isn't always portrayed in music, that's maybe a bit hidden. It's not always shiny or pretty, but it's life, and sometimes that's a struggle but that's the best part. As Chris said, "Locust Street is a song for everyone's who's lost. Don't forget in this squeaky clean world that sometimes you lose, and there can be songs about losers and where that can take us. Everybody goes through these things. There's a Locust Street in every town in America, at least east of the Mississippi."

My favourite verse is just so perfect: "Just a glimpse of what love can be / Once a dream that I owned / One of many lonely, longing souls / At least I'm not alone" The emotion in Chris' voice in this lyric is just.....awe inspiring

Dry bread on the table
Burn the milk
Salt the paper

And it's easy pickins
On locust street
There's no place to hide
And you can't find love on locust street
But you can hear the sunrise crying
Can't you hear the sunrise crying?
A song for you alone

Sad eyes
Weeping willow
Black cat blues
Blacked out window

And it's easy pickins
On locust street
There's no place to hide
And you can't find love on locust street
But you can hear the sunrise crying
Can't you hear the sunrise crying?
A song for you alone

Just a glimpse of what love can be
Once a dream that I owned
One of many lonely, longing souls
At least I'm not alone
Well at least I'm not alone

Ripe off the vine
Now lay rotten
Like a dead end street
Forever forgotten

And it's easy pickins
On locust street
There's no place to hide
And you can't find love on locust street
But you can hear the sunrise crying
Can't you hear the sunrise crying?
A song for you alone

See live, unplugged performance here!

And listen to a version from their live session with NPR here