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Mimi's avatar

Two of my progeny live in New York City. I lived there myself for a period of seven years. This is a great essay.

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Larry Bone's avatar

Great choice of 2 definitive songs revealing how difficult it is to live in or close by New York City. Excellent presentation of the mayorial situation in the superior depth of top shelf podcasters mode rather than usual local legacy media alway limited so as to never quite completely tell the whole story.

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

Yes!

before I read this I didn't have

any actual understanding or connection

with New York nor with this election.

Those songs along with the depth of Mark's writing

gave me a fuller awareness of both

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Mimi's avatar

“So much has happened, but nothing has changed

Still don't know where you're going

You're still just a face in the crowd…”

When I read your intro, I first began to think of the song by Glenn Frey, ‘You Belong to the City.’

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Rain Robinson's avatar

Excellent song, thank you. I first heard it in a Miami Vice episode, "Prodigal Son", during a walk on the streets in NYC. The song was written specifically for that episode by Glenn Frey.

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Mimi's avatar

Thank you for that bit of musical history!

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

Pundits are busy putting forward

facts and considerations

about this election.

Bully for them.

They don't have a clue

about the meaning

of what just transpired.

It takes a poetic writer

to comprehend meaning.

And to give it to us

with such beauty

it reaches our souls.

You are OF New York, Mark

You sing to us from the INside:

"The ache of the city itself.

The sound of a place trying to decide

what it wants to be when it grows up again."

You bring us inside the city

inside the story

we would never have known.

You hold us there with you

as we experience it together.

Now we too hold our breath.

"And the city with all its noise and nerve, is suddenly quiet.

Not in mourning. Not in panic.

In suspense."

And while we are waiting...

we get off our asses

We live for the city

with Stevie

And we dance on Dirty Blvd.

with Lou

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Rain Robinson's avatar

Good commentary and perfect songs, for the dual nature of life in The City.

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