The Sidewalks of New York

The song 'The sidewalks of New York', performed by Robert Sean Leonard. The opening 1'15" is the story behind the lyric,lovely told, though not by Robert.

From "New York: A Documentary Film", Ep 3, 'Sunshine and Shadow'

Category:

Music

Tags:

• robert
• sean
• leonard
• sidewalks
• new
• york

[Lashertheman]

This lilting melody affords a certain sentimental cachet to the song that blends perfectly with the pictures, invokes a time long gone by, and suggests a sadness for days that will never return. It is beautiful.

[jmkoons]

The sense of loss for the times of one's youth here is palpable. Although there is an unsettling lament in the acapella delivery, I thought it worked wonderfully in context to this documetary's volume. For a time I was a stone's throw away from NYC, and fell in love with the dazzling complexity, energy, unpredictability, and rapid pace of change this city has always meant for me. This series reaffirmed all of this.

[madmedic92]

strangely there is actually a US Army Infantry Regiment that adopted this as their march song. This is incredibly depressing, which actually makes a lot a sense if you'd ever served in 16th Infantry.

[boy18inva]

I love the song but the singing (like a funeral dirge) at the end ruins it.

[JohnMcKennaRadio]

This blows my mind. I don't think I would have noticed the song if it didn't have the mournful interpretation... There are hidden layers in melodies...

[anyname2156]

I don't think the song was written as a dirge.

[OcelotPwns]

just realized who Robert Sean Leonard is!

[Audrey206]

This touches me deeply as I recall my Irish grandmother singing this and she of course taught my mother this and my mom sang it often to us. My grandmother sang it wigh a VERY strong Gaelic Lilt. This brings tears to my eyes. It does have a very mournful longing for simpler times when neighbors knew neighbors. Bittersweet~~~~

[SclafaniBagni]

In the words of Steven Patrick Morrissey:

all those people, all those lives

where are they now?

with the loves and hates

and passions just like mine

they were born

and then they lived

and then they died

seems so unfair

I want to cry

[MsDIVINECONNECTION]

I LEARNED THIS SONG IN P.S.124 IN CHORUS THANK U MRS SAPERSTINE WHERE EVER YOU ARE SHE WAS SWEET VERY KIND AND PATIENT WITH US AND HOW COULD WE EVER FORGET MRS WOLFSON I WONDER WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO HER??????

[MusicWriter1965]

@zooeyhall This documentary was by Ric Burns, not Ken. And if you think it's "dreadful," you have no taste in music. The singer's pensive but sweet delivery perfectly captures the wistful sense of longing for one's youth, and for the old neighborhoods

[iluvNYC1231]

This never fails to give me goosebumps. The melody and sense of sadness is unbelievably beautiful.