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In the Neighborhood

from Indiscreet Where You Live by vonHummer

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about

Although the tune for "In the Neighborhood" dates back to 1993 from the "20 Golden Greats" concept album, these new lyrics were added in October of 2005. The original lyrics were the lyrics from "Brown Sugar" by the Stones, as this was one of my "original cover tunes." (And I can tell you it was quite a shock back then to look up what the actual lyrics are for that song, as Mick garbles the hell out of it. The first lyrics I recognized were "sold in a market down in New Orleans." I had no idea what words came before that, and neither did you, admit it!)

I wrote up the lyrics for "In the Neighborhood," thinking about how it felt as a kid to move someplace new, to be the new kid, outside of all the established cliques. At that time, too, Fall of 2005, I was watching a lot of "The Sopranos" and thought about how neighborhood location was so important to gangs of all kind. Since my intention was to take this new album and promote the hell out of it—as I imagined all the real, insider bands do—I felt like I was moving into the neighborhood of the music business at last, after my wanderings well off in the outskirts of nowheresville. But then I also had (still do!) reservations about that, considering the music biz to be basically a mafia-like enterprise. A lot of outsider angst in this one, and so a good kick off to album of loner songs.

lyrics

"In the Neighborhood"
(vonHummer)
You think that we don't exactly agree,
your mob has never been "family" to me,
Made no impression, yes, and it's all good:
I'm in the neighborhood,
I'm in the neighborhood, I'm in the neighborhood,
If loving thy neighbor is right and good,
I'm in the neighborhood...
You seem perplexed, I'm no boy next door,
Not in your foxhole, but I'm down with your war,
Not one of your Merry Men, but we share Sherwood,
I'm in the neighborhood,
I'm in the neighborhood, I'm in the neighborhood,
If loving thy neighbor is right and good,
I'm in the neighborhood...
Blocks away you've got no reputation,
Life is sweet but indiscreet where you live,
No one there to swear they know your life story,
of that I'm positive,
Streets away, hell I'm a Prince not a pauper,
Proper Maximus, a happenin' dude,
Love at first sight needs no intro:
I'm in the neighborhood...
I see my words don't register yet,
but I'm Prime Minister of Hard-to-forget,
When you and your boyfriend get unglued,
I'm in the neighborhood,
I'm in the neighborhood, I'm in the neighborhood,
If loving thy neighbor is right and good,
I'm in the neighborhood...

credits

from Indiscreet Where You Live, released February 25, 2006
vonHummer: vocals and bass

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vonHummer Portland, Oregon

vonHummer is a Portland music/cable access legend whose career spanned from Fall of 2001 to Fall of 2011, during which he recorded a hundred or so songs for use in his absurdist show (and feature film) and played only a handful of concerts. Currently retired, his work shines on for the ages. Or will he someday return...? ... more

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