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Across the Street from the Regent Hotel

by Samm Bennett - Polarity Records

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about

I sometimes write songs that are directly inspired by a photograph or some other visual art. This is one of those. The photo on the jacket is by Fred Herzog. Special thanks to Laura Guerra at the "Original Music Makers and Listeners' Corner" at Facebook for suggesting the photo as a songwriting prompt.

lyrics

ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE REGENT HOTEL

just across the street
cross the street from the Regent Hotel
in the city of Vancouver
might as well have been in Hell
a man standing on the sidewalk
he was bleeding from the chin
he held a cigarette, his hand was wrapped in a bandage
and he smelled like rotgut gin

an old lady standing behind him
was staring him up and down
thinking he’s the kind of hard luck story
that you find over here in the seedy part of town

the man was trying to hail a taxi
ah but there weren’t no taxis stopping
wearing just a t-shirt with evening coming on
and the temperature was dropping
so the kindly old woman stepped up to the man
she said “son you must be cold”
he only mumbled something rude to her
then said “lady you’re way too old”

but then he looked down at her pocketbook
and thought “hey this’ll be an easy score”
he grabbed the purse and then took off running
running toward the liquor store
straight toward the liquor store
gonna get some booze

but what this poor dumb fool hadn’t counted on
was that the old gal could run at quite a clip
she used a cane she was carrying to trip him from behind
he hit the pavement and busted his lip
so now his lip was busted and his nose was broken
and that cut on his chin was even worse
she said "you try that again you miserable fool
and they’re gonna have to call you a hearse"

she took back her purse, he was still face down
she said “you got off easy this time
and by the way, you’re not too good at this, are you?
you might wanna rethink your life of crime

some people just ain’t cut out for a life of crime
boy, you ain't no criminal mastermind
ah, look at you down on the sidewalk
blood coming out your nose
you better stay on your toes
boy you surely ain't cut out for a life of crime
better luck next time
oooh, you'd best forget about your life of crime

credits

released June 1, 2021
Samm Bennett: vocal and all instruments

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Samm Bennett - Polarity Records Tokyo, Japan

Singer and songwriter, player of unusual string instruments such as 3-string and 1-string guitar, plus jaw harps, mouthbow, electronics and junk, plus all manner of drums and percussion.

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