Comments on New York Skyline

A blogger recently posted the following comments at http://putyourearson.blogspot.com/2010/10/another-great-song-about-new-york-is.html:

Another great song about New York is Garland Jeffreys' "New York Skyline", from his brilliant 1977 album, Ghostwriter. Jeffreys was a college friend of the pre-Velvets Lou Reed at Syracuse, and they've remained friends - Reed still makes guest appearances at his shows - as recently as last Tuesday, in fact. Man, would I love to see that. The one time that I was lucky enough to see Jeffreys perform live was at the Montreal Jazz Festival in the summer of 2007, where an acoustic performance of this song was the highlight of an electrifying set. During the song's tag, Jeffreys sang of some of the city's famed skyscrapers: the Chrysler, the Empire State, the Pan Am - and when he sang, "We've got those two big towers" as if they were still standing, the crowd went wild. There was a collective realization that he was right - in a very important way, we still do.

---

And here's a video for New York Skyline (on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPZ-Z7RNulQ):


DW, Assistant to Garland Jeffreys

YouTube Video: "Ghost Writer" Live in '81

---

"Ghost Writer" performed in concert on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_T-IaXQ0BULive performance at the Country Club in Reseda, California, 1981. Garland Jeffreys - Vocals, Brinsley Schwarz - Lead Guitar, Carter Cathcart - Guitar & Keyboards, Steve Goulding - Drums, Brian Stanley - Bass Guitar.

---

Hi Everyone,

Slowly but surely, the album is coming together. All the songs are complete, the basic tracks are recorded, and now the sweetening will begin. Please note: our official website at http://www.garlandjeffreys.com is up and running again, and we’ll be posting news there regularly.

Here’s a list of all the current sites:

Official Site http://www.garlandjeffreys.com

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Garland-Jeffreys/10650433053

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/garlandjeffreys

Blog http://gjphotoblog.blogspot.com

YouTube http://www.youtube.com/gjeffreysadmin

Twitter http://www.twitter.com/garlandjeffreys

Ilike http://www.ilike.com/artist/Garland+Jeffreys

All the Best,
Garland

---

From the album "Ghost Writer" (A & M Records, 1977), reissued on the album "I'm Alive" (Universal International, 2006)

Music & Lyrics by Garland Jeffreys

GHOST WRITER
Oh I used to stay up every night
I be so all alone
In my hand my trusty pen
I work it to the bone

Ghost writer, writer, writer, writer
Everybody thinks I'm doing fine
Ghost writer, writer, writer
I'm gonna lay you down a line

I used to live down on Ludlow Street 1964
Then I was so innocent
But now I know the score

Ghost writer, writer, writer, writer
That's what they call me by name
Ghost writer, writer, writer
For fortune and for fame

We got Shakespeare, Spencer,
Sydney too
We all know what they do
I'm a poet of a kind
I know that you are too

Ghost writer, writer, writer, writer
Just tryina' make my way
Ghost writer, writer, writer
I'm gonna lay one down today

We got Chaplin with his funny face
Jolson with his mask
Movie stars all in a race
I'm going to Hollywood at last

Ghost writer, writer
Like a phantom on the trail
Ghost writer, writer, writer
Yesterday I paid back all of my bail

I got buffaloed down on Barrow Street
Everybody knows it's true
Now I'm standing on my two feet
You're with me and I'm with you

Ghost writer, writer
I'm a New York city son
Ghost writer, writer, writer
Just tryna' have my fun

I've been writing down these old stories now
For 'bout eighteen years or so
People are startin' to call me a genius
I gotta' tell 'em no, no, no, no

Ghost writer, writer
Tell me what do you have to do
Ghost writer, writer, writer, writer
To get your story through