Stewart grew up in the coastal resort town of Bournemouth, Dorset. According to Songfacts, in days of youthful folly Stewart played in a beat group with later BBC DJ Tony Blackburn before moving to the capital to seek fortune and fame.
Having bought his first guitar from future Police guitarist Andy Summers, Stewart traded in his electric guitar for an acoustic guitar when he was offered a weekly slot at Bunjies Coffee House in London's Soho in 1965. From there, he went on to compete at the Les Cousins folk club on Greek Street, where he played alongside Cat Stevens, Bert Jansch, Van Morrison, Roy Harper and Ralph McTell
Although he had his share of the breaks, including a tenure at Bunjees coffee house and a record deal with CBS, life wasn't always easy for the young troubadour; his first serious love affair ended in disaster, and he experienced all the usual insecurities of the stranger in the big city trying to find his way.
In January 1970, Melody Maker named his second release Love Chronicles its Folk Album Of The Year, but in spite of his obviously carving out quite a name for himself, it was not until Year Of The Cat - the single and even more so the monster album - that he really shot to fame.
He emigrated to the United States as his career took off in the mid 1970s, and still lives in California. While studio albums are now few and far between, he still tours extensively in the United States, and, most years, in Europe. Recordings of concerts are often made available through his fan clubs.
Soho
Al Stewart Lyrics
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Huddle by the puddles in the shadows where the drains run
Hot dogs, wet clogs clicking up the sidewalk
Disappearing into the booze shop
Rainbow queues stand down by the news stand, waiting for the late
show
Pin ball, sin hall, minds in free fall
Chocolate-coloured ladies making eyes through the smoke-pall
I'm alone on your streets on a Friday evening
I've been here all of the day
I'm going nowhere with nowhere to go
Football supporters taking the waters
They're looking round for the twilight daughters
Non-stop strip club pornographic bookshop
Come into the back and take your time and have a good look
Old man laughs with flowers in his hair
Newspaper headline "Midde East Deadline"
Jazz musicians are down on the breadline
Soho (needless to say)
I'm alone on your streets on a Friday evening
I've been here all of the day
I'm going nowhere with nowhere to go
Soho feeds the needs and hides the deeds, the mind that bleeds
Disenchanted, downstream in the night
Soho hears the lies, the twisted cries, the lonely sighs
Till she seems lost in dreams
The sun goes down on a neon eon
Though you'd have a job explaining it to Richard Coeur de Lion
Animation, bar conversation, anticipation, disinclination
Poor old wino turns with dust in his eyes
Begs for the dregs from the bottom of the kegs, man
You've never seen a lady lay down and spread her legs like
Soho (needless to say)
I'm alone on your sheets on a Friday evening
I've been here all of the day
I'm going nowhere with nowhere to go
Soho (needless to say)
I'm alone on your streets, or am I dreaming
I've been here all of the day
I'm going nowhere with nowhere to go
The song "Soho" by Al Stewart describes the bustling, vibrant, and chaotic area of Soho in London. The lyrics paint a picture of the varied people and experiences that can be found in the neighborhood. The rain, hot dogs, and clicking wet clogs create a sensory experience, against which Stewart lays his observations. He describes rainbow queues waiting for a late show, pinball and sin hall, and chocolate-colored ladies making eyes through the smoke-pall. Football supporters and twilight daughters mingle, and the strip club-pornographic bookshop beckons the curious. The old man laughs with flowers in his hair, perhaps a symbol of Soho's ability to make the old seem new and weirdly beautiful.
Stewart captures the dichotomy of Soho, which provides for the needs of people, while hiding their nefarious deeds. The mind that bleeds can be lost in the neon lights and the anonymity of the crowds. Jazz musicians huddle on the breadline and the poor old wino begs for the dregs. Soho hears the lies, twisted cries, and lonely sighs, and still it seems lost in dreams. The song ends with Stewart alone on the streets of Soho, going nowhere with nowhere to go, creating a sense of isolation even in the midst of the crowd.
Overall, "Soho" is a poetic tribute to a neighborhood that is full of life but also hides a dark side. The song is an evocative and vivid portrayal of Soho's streets and characters.
Line by Line Meaning
Rainstorm, brainstorm, faces in the maelstrom
It’s raining heavily and people are hurrying through the streets trying to find shelter
Huddle by the puddles in the shadows where the drains run
People are standing close to the edges of the streets trying to avoid the water flowing in the drains
Hot dogs, wet clogs clicking up the sidewalk
People are walking on the pavements and the sound of their shoes is audible over the sound of the rain
Disappearing into the booze shop
People are entering a bar/liquor store to escape from the rain
Rainbow queues stand down by the news stand, waiting for the late show
People are standing in lines waiting for a late show/movie outside a news stand with rainbow-colored adverts
Pin ball, sin hall, minds in free fall
People are playing pinball in a hall where sinful things are also happening, and no one is trying to stop them
Chocolate-colored ladies making eyes through the smoke-pall
Women are making suggestive eye contact through the smoky haze
Soho (needless to say)
Referencing Soho, which is known to many
I'm alone on your streets on a Friday evening
The singer is alone on the streets of Soho on a Friday evening
I've been here all of the day
The singer has been in Soho the entire day
I'm going nowhere with nowhere to go
The singer is wandering aimlessly with no particular destination in mind
Football supporters taking the waters
Football supporters are relaxing at a spa
They're looking round for the twilight daughters
The supporters are searching for prostitutes
Non-stop strip club pornographic bookshop
A bookshop promoting pornographic strip clubs that never closes
Come into the back and take your time and have a good look
Customers are invited to check out the store's merchandise at their leisure
Old man laughs with flowers in his hair
An elderly man is laughing while wearing flowers as decoration
Newspaper headline 'Middle East Deadline'
There is a deadline approaching for Middle Eastern news stories
Jazz musicians are down on the breadline
Jazz musicians are struggling financially
Soho feeds the needs and hides the deeds, the mind that bleeds
Soho caters to people's desires and protects their secrets, but it also attracts those with troubled minds
Disenchanted, downstream in the night
People are feeling disillusioned and defeated as they move through the dark streets
Soho hears the lies, the twisted cries, the lonely sighs
Soho is witness to lies, distressing outbursts, and the signs of loneliness
Till she seems lost in dreams
Soho appears as if it is lost in its own dream world
The sun goes down on a neon eon
As the sun sets, the neon lights in Soho become more prominent
Though you'd have a job explaining it to Richard Coeur de Lion
It would be difficult to explain the atmosphere of Soho to someone who lived over 800 years ago
Animation, bar conversation, anticipation, disinclination
There is lively chatter in the bars, people are excitedly anticipating something, and others are indifferent
Poor old wino turns with dust in his eyes
A homeless alcoholic man turns around with dust in his eyes
Begs for the dregs from the bottom of the kegs, man
The man is asking for leftover alcohol at the end of the night
You've never seen a lady lay down and spread her legs like
A lady is performing a sexual act like nothing ever seen before
Soho (needless to say)
Referencing Soho, which is known to many
I'm alone on your sheets on a Friday evening
The singer is alone in Soho on a Friday evening
I've been here all of the day
The singer has been in Soho the entire day
I'm going nowhere with nowhere to go
The singer is wandering aimlessly with no particular destination in mind
Soho (needless to say)
Referencing Soho, which is known to many
I'm alone on your streets, or am I dreaming
The singer feels as though they might be dreaming, or that their experience in Soho is surreal
I've been here all of the day
The singer has been in Soho the entire day
I'm going nowhere with nowhere to go
The singer is wandering aimlessly with no particular destination in mind
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALISTAIR IAN STEWART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind