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Peter Case — On the Way Downtown
Album: Full Service No Waiting
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 616









Released: 1997
Length: 3:32
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Lyrics:

How many times have I washed my face
Combed my hair and left this place?
Felt a shiver in my chest when I hit the door
The promise of something here worth living for

I had a fight with the woman that had my kids
Can’t get along with anyone, what if I did?
I’m going back to the corner
Where we used to meet
When our dreams were young
And our night’s were sweet

I’m going out tonight, going way downtown
Where have my friends who’ve died still hang around
See what’s shaking as the leaves turn brown
Seasons been and gone
Another one’s coming on
And I’m on my way downtown

Well it was thirty years ago in the setting sun
I was walking down Union Street and started to run
Down into a cellar where the music screamed
I guess it hit me harder than I ever dreamed

In the Palace Theatre Hall later on that night
There were miracles in store but not a soul in sight
Pay phone ringing it didn’t seem so strange
Anything could happen everything could change

I’m going out tonight, way downtown
Where have my friends who’ve died hanging ‘round
All that moonlight spilling on the ground
As seasons been and gone

We used to gather here, flirt, and laugh
Now all my dreams are cut in half
Girls were smoking cigarettes and chewing gum
They’d just get scared when they see me come

Way downtown the corners move
Sandstone slabs are worn and grooved
Turning black in the first drops of rain
You can smell the earth and sky again

You hear the rattle of the leaves the locust call
Underneath the elms by the schoolyard wall
Summer’s over and the fields are tall
Seasons been and gone
Another one’s coming on
And I’m on my way downtown
Posted 1 week ago by Sofa_King    [ Reply ]


Posted 4 years ago by BSartiste    [ Reply ]
PC is just so good!
Posted 4 years ago by hakuindude    [ Reply ]
The whole thing RP shows to us Europeans, there has to be a very nice and friendly America. Please, sort the Problem Trump as soon as possible. We are afraid over here, what is Happening to your country. Com together, right now. 
Posted 4 years ago by knatterkumm    [ Reply ]
I enjoyed that.
Posted 6 years ago by lester    [ Reply ]
 Shmelo wrote:
Not good.

 
times 2
Posted 6 years ago by jambo    [ Reply ]
Not good.
Posted 7 years ago by Shmelo    [ Reply ]
 Shesdifferent wrote:
This isn't terrible but I hear so much of this style on RP...borderline country...not for me.

 
Borderline country/alt-country/country rock/Americana... whatever you want to call it, it is becoming one of my favorites. 
Posted 7 years ago by Imkirok    [ Reply ]
Saw him two nights ago in the Chicago area. He still has the magic. Great lyricist and guitarist. He played this song that night to boot!
Posted 7 years ago by squarky    [ Reply ]
brings a smile to my face and a little pep in my walk thank you Mr. Case   : )
Posted 7 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
If this was anymore middle of the road it would have white lines down the back of it.  Insipid, uninspired rehash of what went before.
Posted 8 years ago by Jota    [ Reply ]
Always loved this song
Posted 10 years ago by impediguy    [ Reply ]
Listening to this song while in the kitchen took me way back to Portland town around 1970 ... a lot of young guitar pickers then.  Thx RP   
Posted 11 years ago by Larry_Rosenow    [ Reply ]
I like this, reminds me of John Prine a bit...
Posted 11 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
What a hidden gem Mr. Case is, thanks for reminding me.
Posted 11 years ago by hakuindude    [ Reply ]
Great live performer if you ever get the chance . . . 
Posted 11 years ago by SchoepTone    [ Reply ]
Peter Case put me in the mood for quality sound, along the same line carrying Jourma Kohkenan (i caint spell), and Taj Mahal
Posted 12 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Very underrated artist. Good stuff.
Posted 12 years ago by northern_girl    [ Reply ]
Saw him "back in the day" with Lemonheads and Smithereens at Poplar Creek in Chicago(well, the suburbs).  Good times, good times.........
Posted 13 years ago by jmassoglia    [ Reply ]

Nice feel, nice sound. 8 > 9


Posted 13 years ago by d-don    [ Reply ]
Sounds a little like Slaid Cleaves...that's a good thang
Posted 14 years ago by appy_monkey    [ Reply ]
 Shesdifferent wrote:
This isn't terrible but I hear so much of this style on RP...borderline country...not for me.
 
So glad that RP covers this "style", this genre, whatever.  Good music is good music.  
Posted 14 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
borderline country...I might use that for my next album title
Posted 14 years ago by icemang    [ Reply ]
This isn't terrible but I hear so much of this style on RP...borderline country...not for me.
Posted 14 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
 toterola wrote:
Ol' Pete! I've been listening to his music for about 30 years now, Plimsouls and all. Still great, after all these years. {#Clap}
 
Agree, Peter Case is a majorly underrated-appreciated singer-songwriter; check out Flying Saucer Blues, more PC! (Thanks for all the great tunes this year Bill—-Wishing RP much success in 2010—The Year of the Tiger!)

Posted 15 years ago by guiguy    [ Reply ]
 peter_james_bond wrote:
I don't know if I've ever heard Peter Case before. I like the song and I really like his voice. Good on ya RP!
  

If you've ever seen the movie "Valley Girl" with Nicoloas Cage, there is a scene in a bar where the band is playing a song 'A Million Miles Away'. The band is The Plimsouls, and their leader was Peter Case.
Posted 15 years ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]
MAJOR new discovery for me - I'm all over this dude's entire discography. What a tune! Solid 9.
Posted 15 years ago by jedley    [ Reply ]
I swear Slaid Cleves sounds just like Peter Case! I would have sworn this was Slaid Cleves, who I adore. If this Case guy sticks with it, he might make something of himself...
Posted 15 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
I don't know if I've ever heard Peter Case before. I like the song and I really like his voice. Good on ya RP!
Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
Ol' Pete! I've been listening to his music for about 30 years now, Plimsouls and all. Still great, after all these years. {#Clap}
Posted 15 years ago by toterola    [ Reply ]
 liamfm wrote:
I love the rasping voice.Great uplifting music.
 
Great uplifting music. :)

Posted 15 years ago by lambret    [ Reply ]
long not heard, saw him about 20 years ago in Nijmegen (Holland)
great singer/songwriter, classic style
Posted 15 years ago by bobcat1963    [ Reply ]
At first I thought this was Dylan.  Refreshing to hear that his type of music is still "out there."  Kudos to Peter Case!
Posted 16 years ago by bupanishad2012    [ Reply ]
the cover photo looks like peter can do lots of complex calculation quickly.....if you know what I mean......
Posted 16 years ago by Kdubba    [ Reply ]
Always like anything from Peter Case - but still prefer his Plimsouls days.
Posted 16 years ago by eskles    [ Reply ]
I love the rasping voice.Great uplifting music.
Posted 19 years ago by liamfm    [ Reply ]
Country Hick stuff....where's the blow jug sound?

And it sounds alot like Buckets o' Rain by Dylan...but that's way better.


Posted 19 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
squarky wrote:
I am now at peace
Wonderfully quirky! I enjoyed it very much... "I dunno Dick, I give it an 88..."
Posted 19 years ago by samiyam    [ Reply ]
I am now at peace
Posted 20 years ago by squarky    [ Reply ]
Another fine son of Buffalo. This is a damn good CD by a largely underappreciated troubador- :D
Posted 20 years ago by 326    [ Reply ]