The Sidewalks of New York facts for kids
"The Sidewalks of New York" is a popular song about life in New York City during the 1890s. It was composed in 1894 by vaudeville actor and singer Charles B. Lawlor (June 2, 1852 – May 31, 1925) with lyrics by James W. Blake (September 23, 1862 – May 24, 1935). It was an immediate and long-lasting hit and is often considered a theme for New York City. Many artists, including Mel Tormé, Duke Ellington, Larry Groce, Richard Barone, and The Grateful Dead, have performed it. Governor Al Smith of New York used it as a theme song for his failed presidential campaigns of 1920, 1924, and 1928. The song is also known as "East Side, West Side" from the first words of the chorus.
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b2 d4 | a2 b4 | g4 b2~ | b2 r4 g2 g4 | a4( g) e | g2.~ | g2 } \new Lyrics \lyricsto "one" { Down in front of Ca -- sey's, Old brown woo -- den stoop } >> } } </score>
Lyrics
While variations exist depending on the artist performing the song, the chorus has been consistent. The original lyrics are as follows.
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Down in front of Casey's old brown wooden stoop
On a summer's evening we formed a merry group
Boys and girls together we would sing and waltz
While Ginnie played the organ on the sidewalks of New York
East Side, West Side, all around the town
The tots sang "ring-around-rosie," "London Bridge is falling down"
Boys and girls together, me and Mamie O'Rourke
Tripped the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York
That's where Johnny Casey, little Jimmy Crowe
Jakey Krause, the baker, who always had the dough
Pretty Nellie Shannon with a dude as light as cork
She first picked up the waltz step on the sidewalks of New York
Things have changed since those times, some are up in "G"
Others they are wand'rers but they all feel just like me
They'd part with all they've got, could they once more walk
With their best girl and have a twirl on the sidewalks of New York
Other commercial uses
In 1923, a film was made based on the song. The song is featured in a scene in the 1934 Shirley Temple film Little Miss Marker. Another film released in 1934 that features the song is the drama film Manhattan Melodrama, in which it is played by a band on the ill-fated steamboat General Slocum, moments before it catches fire and sinks in the East River on June 15, 1904, which was New York's worst disaster until 9/11.
In the 1950s, the tune was used for a commercial jingle advertising the Hot Shoppes restaurants (owned by J.W. Marriott) in the Washington, D.C., area. The words were: "East side, west side, all around the town/Wherever you look for a place to eat, a Hot Shoppes can be found/Take a bus or streetcar, or drive right up to the door/Hot Shoppes food is the kind that always brings you back for more." Another 1950s' jingle used the song to advertise Rheingold Beer: "East side, west side, all around the town/Rheingold extra dry beer is the beer of great renown/Friendly, freshening Rheingold; always happily dry/The crisp, clean taste you want in beer is in Rheingold extra dry." Lastly, it was used in Old Gold cigarettes tap-dancing commercials.
In the mid-1950s, the song was used for TV commercials in an anti-littering campaign. The commercial showed an Irish New York City cop strolling along the sidewalk, twirling his nightstick, finally standing alongside a garbage can, as he sang,
East side, West side, All around the town,
Now there’s something wrong with our city
It’s the trash that’s on the ground.
Now we’ve got to get together,
And sure as my name is O’Rourke,
We’ll use these fine litter baskets
On the sidewalks of New York.
In the 1957 film Beau James Mayor James J. Walker of New York City, played by Bob Hope, sings the song to convince New Yorkers that he is one of them and should be retained as mayor.
In 1960, WABC-TV Channel 7 children's show host Ed Bakey used the song as the theme for his tramp clown character, "Tommy Seven", with the lyrics:
East Side, West Side,
All around the town.
The kids watch Tommy Seven
He's their fav'rite TV clown.
He's got a nose that's magic,
A pushcart loaded with fun.
So let's watch Tommy Seven
For the show has just begun.
While not using the song itself, the title of the 1960s TV series East Side/West Side, starring George C. Scott; set and filmed in New York, used the familiarity of the lyrics to establish the series' location.
In the 1970s, the song was again used for a radio jingle. This time the client was the Scull's Angels taxicab company, which has long since ceased to exist. The radio ad was very popular, and gave the cab company more business than they could handle. At that point they took it off the air. It was sung by a singer, Herb Wasserman, who had a very gruff voice, and an over the top New York cabbie accent. The lyrics were written by prolific jingle writer Joan Wile and produced by Don Elliott productions.
The lyrics were:
"East Side, West Side, All around the town.
Scull's Angels will take ya, back and forth, and up and down,
We'll take ya to the theater, and the airport.
We'll pick ya, up at ya door.
'cause Scull's Angels will stick-to-the-streets-and-not-drive-all-over, the sidewalks of New York."
(lyrics used by permission of the writer)
This song is sung by John Thackery (Clive Owen) while learning to ride a bicycle on The Knick, which is set in New York City in 1900.
The song is also used in the first few scenes of the film adaptation of Mary Higgins Clark best selling novel, All Around The Town.
A version by Blondie was used in the ending montage of the HBO drama The Deuce.
