Closing Down The Park
Blues Traveler Lyrics

Ya know,
The singer is introducing the subject of the song

There's this park, you see, in New York
The song is about a specific park in New York

Where we used to grow up
The park was a childhood hangout spot for the singer

And, um, hang around
The artist and friends spent lots of time at the park

And then we started moving on
The artist and friends left the park as they grew older

And started going on the road
The singer and friends began touring with their band

We weren't home that much
The band was often away from New York

But, back then they had this really great idea
The local government had a plan for the park

When we hit town
Whenever the band returned to New York

These parks were prime real estate, you see
The park's condition impacted property values

And if we could keep them nice-looking
Maintaining the park would benefit the community

We could charge more rent for the places around town
Property owners could benefit financially from the upkeep of the park

Now, I know you guys have that here around Boston
Similar park policies exist in Boston

But, you know, in New York
The singer is specifically referring to the situation in New York

They had this great idea that there had to be a crack-down
The local government wanted to clean up the park

So we could sweep the park clean of the undesirable elements
Authorities wanted to remove people they deemed undesirable from the park

And we figured, what could we do?
The artist and friends didn't know how to combat the situation

Besides vote
The only solution the singer can think of is voting

Perhaps we could tell a song
The band decides to write a song about the park situation

To you
The audience

Through the musical medium
The way the song will be communicated

And then you'll know
The song will inform listeners about the park situation

I really hope so
The band hopes the song will make a difference

Well, here it is
The band is about to perform the song

Rich man smells smoke, he smells something burning green
A wealthy person is alarmed by the presence of drugs in the park

Doesn't like the odor, better put some badges on the scene
The person wants the police to deal with the drug problem

Put a blue suit on everybody you see hangin' round
The rich person wants the police to monitor and arrest park visitors

And if that don't work, we're gonna close that park down...
If the previous measures don't work, the rich person wants the park to be closed

But anyway
The band is switching to another example of park oppression

Yesterday a man was busted trying to walk his dog
A man was arrested for walking his dog in the park

Cop didn't like his attitude, say that he was against the law
The dog-walker was arrested for being uncooperative with the police

Shoot everybody with a mutt this side of the town
The police are being overly aggressive towards people with dogs

And if that don't work, we're gonna close that park down...
If the police continue to mistreat dog-owners, the park may be shut down

You know when you're walkin' through that park one night
The artist is warning listeners about the dangers of the park

Whether your skin is black or white
The risk isn't specific to one ethnicity

And you feel that particular pressure on the back of your head
The nervous sensation one might feel in an unsafe situation

And the hairs on the back of your neck start to stand up
The physical symptoms that accompany fear

And you hear a (police call)
The sound of police sirens

Trust those hairs
The singer advises listeners to take their instincts seriously

Because if you're big or burly
The risk of violence isn't tied to one's physical appearance

Or even short and surly
Even people who come off as unfriendly may be at risk

Or if your cat's named Shirley
Even one's pet isn't safe in the park

You could be walkin' through that park
The danger is omnipresent

And meet with the most undesirable disaster
The potential for violence is severe

Compliments of your taxes
The police are funded through taxpayer dollars

I'm not saying its gonna happen
The artist is not making guarantees

I'm not saying that it will definitely happen
The singer is not making guarantees

But it could happen
The artist is warning of the possibility of violence

Because it has happened
Violent incidents have occurred in the park before

I mean, it could be you
The danger is not limited to specific people

Those guys back there
The singer is pointing to people in the audience

Yeah, that guy, yeah definitely
The artist is singling out someone in the audience as potentially at-risk

Those three, easily
The artist is pointing to three people in the audience as potentially at-risk

Yup, you
The singer is singling out someone in the audience as potentially at-risk

Yup, that guy
The singer is singling out someone in the audience as potentially at-risk

That guy
The artist is singling out someone in the audience as potentially at-risk

Him
The artist is singling out someone in the audience as potentially at-risk

Those guys up there
The artist is pointing to people in seating above the stage as potentially at-risk

Stinky or Scarface
The singer is calling attention to people in the audience with derogatory nicknames as potentially at-risk

Anybody
The artist is warning of the danger to everyone

Well, enough of my yakking
The singer is done discussing the risk of the park

What about your truth and your mother's apple pie
The singer is calling attention to the hypocrisy of the government's actions

I guess it's all another part of your grand designing lie
The singer believes the government's actions are part of a larger deceitful plan

Should I tell you something pretty so you don't end my way of life
The artist is suggesting that they lie to protect themselves from government retaliation

Or should I come up from behind with some stolen, bloody, rusty knife
The artist is considering violent retaliation against the government

Well maybe I should sit by and watch you kill my friends
The singer is considering passive resistance against the government

And maybe I can learn to love you and hope you never end
The singer is considering ironic acceptance of the government's oppressive actions

Perhaps I can learn to hate you but I think I already do
The artist already despises the government's actions

All I know for sure right now, it's gotta be me or you
The artist believes they must take action against the government

While your uncle rolls his joints with his fifty dollar bill
The artist is calling attention to the socioeconomic disparity between government officials and citizens

I'm off in some other park, and I'm laughing at you still
The singer is reveling in their freedom from the oppressive situation

Laughing my saggy ass off at you baby
The artist is mocking the government's futile attempts to control the park

c'mon tell me all of your stories
The singer is inviting the audience to share their own experiences with oppresion

Tell me about your politics
The singer is encouraging a discussion about government policies

Tell me anything
The singer is open to hearing any opinions or experiences

Tell me how you blame your kids
The artist is criticizing those who put blame on younger generations for societal issues