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Second Avenue

by John Hamilton

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I had forgotten about this song and I have no idea how it popped into my head a few weeks ago — although it was a repertoire staple when I played in piano bars during the Civil War. When I sat down to dust it off and see if it still worked, I remembered every chord and every lyric.

This has only a little to do with my memory and a lot to do with how perfectly constructed this song is. It should be taught as an example of a perfect pop song. From the repetition of the word “Since …” to begin the verses, to the imagery (the room cold and dusty / the frost on the window pane / shaving in a looking glass), to the harmonic structure, it is a gem.

It is also, for me, quintessentially New York. It’s not just the city that never sleeps. It’s also the city that, eventually, breaks your heart.

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released August 11, 2023
Recorded, mixed and mastered by John Hamilton in The Little Room ©.

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John Hamilton Richmond, Massachusetts

Vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and multi-genre songwriter, living in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts.

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