The Sidewalks of New York

Introduction

Song "The Sidewalks of New York" is a popular song about life in New York City during the 1890s.Song "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 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.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.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.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.The song is also known as "East Side, West Side" from the first words of the chorus.

History

The tune, a slow and deliberate waltz, was devised by Lawlor.The tune, a slow and deliberate waltz, was devised by Lawlor.

He had been singing at Charlie Murphy's Anawanda (Democratic) Club, for a Ladies' Night with a good party.He had been singing at Charlie Murphy's Anawanda (Democratic) Club, for a Ladies' Night with a good party.

On his walk home, he thought to himself that he sang everyone else's tunes, and he should write one of his own.On his walk home, he thought to himself that he sang everyone else's tunes, and he should write one of his own.

He couldn't think of anything on his long walk home, but during the night the tune and theme came to him from the walk itself.He couldn't think of anything on his long walk home, but during the night the tune and theme came to him from the walk itself.

The next day, he went downtown to John Golden's hat store, where Blake worked, and hummed the melody for him.The next day, he went downtown to John Golden's hat store, where Blake worked, and hummed the melody for him.

The melody was very similar to an 1892 song called "Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two)" by British composer Harry Dacre.The melody was very similar to an 1892 song called "Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two)" by British composer Harry Dacre.

Blake took a liking to the 3/4 tune, and had Lawlor repeat it several times.Blake took a liking to the 3/4 tune, and had Lawlor repeat it several times.

"You get the music on paper," he told Lawlor, "and I'll write the words for it.""You get the music on paper," he told Lawlor, "and I'll write the words for it."

Lawlor returned to the store in about twenty minutes with the musical notes written, and Blake was halfway through the lyrics, having been interrupted by a customer.Lawlor returned to the store in about twenty minutes with the musical notes written, and Blake was halfway through the lyrics, having been interrupted by a customer.

He finished the words in another half hour.He finished the words in another half hour.

The tune and words became familiar and well known throughout New York City.The tune and words became familiar and well known throughout New York City.

It was first made famous by Lottie Gilson, and it had staying power because the melody was catchy and easy to sing.It was first made famous by Lottie Gilson, and it had staying power because the melody was catchy and easy to sing.

The words were a shared vision of Lawlor and Blake, and recall their childhood neighborhoods and those who grew up with them.The words were a shared vision of Lawlor and Blake, and recall their childhood neighborhoods and those who grew up with them.

It was a universal longing for youth, yesteryear, and place, although it was also idealized because both Lawlor and Blake had grown up quite poor.It was a universal longing for youth, yesteryear, and place, although it was also idealized because both Lawlor and Blake had grown up quite poor.

Lawlor said that he envisioned a "big husky policeman leaning against a lamppost and twirling his club, an organ grinder playing nearby, and the east side kids with dirty faces, shoes unlaced, stockings down, torn clothes, dancing to the music, while from a tenement window an old Irish woman with a checkered cap and one of those old time checkered shawls around her shoulders, looking down and smiling at the children."Lawlor said that he envisioned a "big husky policeman leaning against a lamppost and twirling his club, an organ grinder playing nearby, and the east side kids with dirty faces, shoes unlaced, stockings down, torn clothes, dancing to the music, while from a tenement window an old Irish woman with a checkered cap and one of those old time checkered shawls around her shoulders, looking down and smiling at the children."

During Smith's 1928 campaign, the urban centric tune proved symbolic of a campaign that failed to find its footing in America's more rural areas, where Herbert Hoover was more popular.During Smith's 1928 campaign, the urban centric tune proved symbolic of a campaign that failed to find its footing in America's more rural areas, where Herbert Hoover was more popular.

Until 1996, it also was used as the post parade song for the Belmont Stakes, the third race in of horse racing's Triple Crown.Until 1996, it also was used as the post parade song for the Belmont Stakes, the third race in of horse racing's Triple Crown.

Then, the management of the Belmont, trying to appeal to a younger, crasser demographic, decided to alter tradition and changed the post parade song to "New York, New York".Then, the management of the Belmont, trying to appeal to a younger, crasser demographic, decided to alter tradition and changed the post parade song to "New York, New York".

As a result, there was speculation that a jinx had fallen over any horse attempting to win the Triple Crown.As a result, there was speculation that a jinx had fallen over any horse attempting to win the Triple Crown.

Although four horses between 1979 and 1996 had already failed to win the Triple Crown after winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, another eight horses failed after the song was changed, seven as competitors, and one, I'll Have Another, who was scratched the morning of the race because of lameness.Although four horses between 1979 and 1996 had already failed to win the Triple Crown after winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, another eight horses failed after the song was changed, seven as competitors, and one, I'll Have Another, who was scratched the morning of the race because of lameness.

It was said that the ghost of Mamie O'Rourke would never let another Triple Crown winner emerge unless and until The Sidewalks of New York was reinstated as the post parade song for The Belmont Stakes.It was said that the ghost of Mamie O'Rourke would never let another Triple Crown winner emerge unless and until The Sidewalks of New York was reinstated as the post parade song for The Belmont Stakes.

The alleged curse ended when American Pharoah won the Triple Crown with his wire to wire win at the Belmont Stakes on June 6, 2015.The alleged curse ended when American Pharoah won the Triple Crown with his wire to wire win at the Belmont Stakes on June 6, 2015.

Max Fleischer and his brother Dave Fleischer made a cartoon The Sidewalks of New York with the song in 1925, using the DeForest Phonofilm sound on film process.Max Fleischer and his brother Dave Fleischer made a cartoon The Sidewalks of New York with the song in 1925, using the DeForest Phonofilm sound on film process.

The Fleischers re released the song on 5 February 1929 with a new soundtrack in the RCA Photophone system.The Fleischers re released the song on 5 February 1929 with a new soundtrack in the RCA Photophone system.

Both cartoons used the "follow the bouncing ball" gimmick.Both cartoons used the "follow the bouncing ball" gimmick.

Although the song achieved cultural success shortly after its release, its two authors had sold its copyright to Howley, Haviland, and Company, and earned only $5,000 for their efforts.Although the song achieved cultural success shortly after its release, its two authors had sold its copyright to Howley, Haviland, and Company, and earned only $5,000 for their efforts.