She is known for her sense of humor, which is expressed in both her music and her onstage performances. Many of her songs alternate between emotional reflections on romance and outright comedy. Two of her more famous songs include "Sensitive New Age Guys" and "Bald Headed Men".
The New Street People
Christine Lavin Lyrics
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people are huddled in doorways all over town
stamping their feet to keep warm, blowing on their hands
its sad to see this misery in such a wealthy land,
the land such a wealthy land.
some speak english, some speak french, some spanish
and japanese (arigato)
all of them are slave to the demon cigarette
this song is about people who smoke, if you havent figured that out yet
smokers are the new street people that you see wherever you go
coughing hacking lighting up in the wind and the rain and the snow
in the fog and the hill and the dust and the heat
cigarette smokers have become the uptown equivalent of the valory bum
(bum bum bum bum bum)
now i can hear you smokers getting mad at me
but come on weve tried everything to get you to quit
weve begged weve pleaded weve read you gruesome statistics
and still you smoke!
now were trying a new tactic, embarrassing you into quitting
think of this song as tough love (tough love)
its only a matter of time before street venders get wise,
its hard enough selling hot dogs without the smoke getting
in their eyes (smoke gets in their eyes)
and in their hair and in their lungs and buns and hotdog meat
theyll ask the city to pass a law to ban smoking on the street
the street, no smoking on the street
if they cant smoke on the street or in the buildings up above
where will smokers go to partake of what they love?
restaurants? (no) bars? (uh uh) taxi cabs? (no way)
smokers are the most opressed minority today
smokers are the new street people that you see wherever you go
coughing hacking lighting up in the wind and the rain and the snow
in the fog and () and the dust and the heat
cigarette smokers have become the uptown equivalent of the valory bum
(bum bum bum bum bum)
so if you see a smoker on the sidewalk pity her, pity him
their bad habits force them to be on the outside looking in
and all the world power and nicotine patches havent helped a bit
in summer they wheeze in winter they freeze and still they just dont quit
dont quit, and still they just dont quit
years ago i saw a bumber sticker i still recall today, it said:
(kissing a smoker is just like licking a dirty ashtray)
if that doesnt make you think twice about
how smoking offends
go lick a dirty ashtray and tell me would you want to do that again (no)
again (yuck), would you ever do that again (uh uh)
smokers are the new street people that you see wherever you go
coughing hacking lighting up in the wind and the rain and the snow
in the fog and () and the dust and the heat
cigarette smokers have become the uptown equivalent of the valory bum
(bum bum bum bum bum)
TOUGH LOVE!
In Christine Lavin's song "The New Street People," the lyrics depict a scene of cold winter weather with snow falling, and people huddled in doorways trying to keep warm. The song highlights the irony of seeing such misery and poverty in a wealthy land. The diverse group of people in this situation, speaking different languages and coming from different backgrounds, all share one thing in common – their addiction to cigarettes. The song suggests that smokers have become the new street people, facing social stigmatization and exclusion.
Lavin acknowledges that smokers may feel defensive about the song's message, but she points out that various attempts have been made to help them quit, including begging, pleading, and showing them gruesome statistics. The lyrics suggest that a new approach is being taken, using embarrassment as a tactic to encourage quitting, portraying the song as tough love.
The song also addresses the future implications of smoking bans, envisioning a time when smoking on the streets will be prohibited. Lavin mentions how street vendors, already facing challenges with people smoking near their businesses, may push for a ban. This would leave smokers with limited places to enjoy their habit, as restaurants, bars, and even taxi cabs are mentioned as potential no-smoking zones. The lyrics emphasize the social marginalization and oppression faced by smokers, dubbing them the most oppressed minority of today.
In the midst of the song's humor and satire, Lavin attempts to shed light on the negative health effects of smoking and the social consequences smokers endure. Despite efforts to promote quitting, such as the use of world power and nicotine patches, the habit persists. The song ends with a bittersweet observation that smokers continue to suffer, wheezing in summer and freezing in winter, yet they still struggle to quit.
The song effectively intertwines humor, social commentary, and a call to action, contributing to the ongoing conversation surrounding smoking and its impact on individuals and society.
Line by Line Meaning
its 3 degrees fehrenheit snow is falling down,
The temperature is extremely cold, with snow falling.
people are huddled in doorways all over town
Individuals are seeking shelter in doorways to escape the cold.
stamping their feet to keep warm, blowing on their hands
They're trying to generate warmth by stamping their feet and blowing on their hands.
its sad to see this misery in such a wealthy land,
It's disheartening to witness such suffering in a prosperous country.
the land such a wealthy land.
Despite the wealth in this country, the plight of these people is still evident.
some speak english, some speak french, some spanish and japanese (arigato)
There is diversity among the individuals, with different languages spoken.
they have more in common than a shivering in their knees
Despite their differences, they share the experience of feeling cold and shivering.
all of them are slave to the demon cigarette
Every one of them is addicted to smoking cigarettes.
this song is about people who smoke, if you havent figured that out yet
The song serves as an explicit portrayal of smokers and their habits.
smokers are the new street people that you see wherever you go
Smokers have become a marginalized group visible in various locations.
coughing hacking lighting up in the wind and the rain and the snow
They can be observed coughing and lighting up cigarettes regardless of adverse weather conditions.
in the fog and the hill and the dust and the heat
Smokers can be found smoking in different environments, including foggy areas, hilly regions, dusty places, and in hot weather.
cigarette smokers have become the uptown equivalent of the valory bum
Cigarette smokers are now comparable to the less fortunate individuals found in upscale areas.
(bum bum bum bum bum)
This phrase serves as a musical refrain.
now i can hear you smokers getting mad at me
The singer acknowledges that smokers may be upset with her for bringing attention to their habit.
but come on weve tried everything to get you to quit
Despite various attempts to encourage smokers to quit, it hasn't been successful.
weve begged weve pleaded weve read you gruesome statistics
Efforts have been made to persuade smokers through begging, pleading, and presenting them with unsettling statistics.
and still you smoke!
Despite all the efforts, smokers continue to smoke.
now were trying a new tactic, embarrassing you into quitting
The approach now is to shame smokers into giving up their habit.
think of this song as tough love (tough love)
The song is intended as a form of tough love, aiming to push smokers towards quitting.
its only a matter of time before street venders get wise
Street vendors will eventually recognize the impact of smoking on their businesses.
its hard enough selling hot dogs without the smoke getting in their eyes (smoke gets in their eyes)
The presence of smoke from cigarettes makes it challenging for street vendors to sell their products, particularly hot dogs.
and in their hair and in their lungs and buns and hotdog meat
Smoke affects not only their eyes but also their hair, lungs, and the hot dog ingredients, causing contamination.
theyll ask the city to pass a law to ban smoking on the street
Street vendors will request the implementation of a law prohibiting smoking in public areas.
if they cant smoke on the street or in the buildings up above
If smokers are restricted from smoking on the street or indoors,
where will smokers go to partake of what they love?
They will need to find alternative spaces to indulge in their love for smoking.
restaurants? (no) bars? (uh uh) taxi cabs? (no way)
Smoking will be prohibited in restaurants, bars, and taxi cabs, leaving smokers with limited options.
smokers are the most oppressed minority today
Smokers are currently the most marginalized and disadvantaged social group.
so if you see a smoker on the sidewalk pity her, pity him
The singer encourages empathy towards smokers encountered on sidewalks.
their bad habits force them to be on the outside looking in
Their addictive behavior results in their exclusion from societal norms.
and all the world power and nicotine patches havent helped a bit
Attempts by authorities and nicotine patches have been ineffective in aiding smokers to quit.
in summer they wheeze in winter they freeze and still they just dont quit
Smokers suffer from respiratory issues in summer and endure freezing temperatures in winter, yet they remain dedicated to smoking.
years ago i saw a bumper sticker i still recall today, it said:
The singer remembers seeing a bumper sticker that left a lasting impression.
(kissing a smoker is just like licking a dirty ashtray)
The bumper sticker humorously suggests that kissing a smoker is akin to tasting a dirty ashtray.
if that doesnt make you think twice about how smoking offends
The statement on the bumper sticker should make smokers reflect on how their smoking habits can be unpleasant to others.
go lick a dirty ashtray and tell me would you want to do that again (no)
To truly understand the unpleasantness, one should try licking a dirty ashtray and consider if they would willingly repeat the experience.
again (yuck), would you ever do that again (uh uh)
The rhetorical question emphasizes the repulsiveness of the act and implies that most people would not willingly repeat it.
smokers are the new street people that you see wherever you go
Smokers have become a marginalized group visible in various locations.
coughing hacking lighting up in the wind and the rain and the snow
They can be observed coughing and lighting up cigarettes regardless of adverse weather conditions.
in the fog and () and the dust and the heat
Smokers can be found smoking in different environments, including foggy areas, urban spaces, dusty places, and in hot weather.
cigarette smokers have become the uptown equivalent of the valory bum
Cigarette smokers are now comparable to the less fortunate individuals found in upscale areas.
(bum bum bum bum bum)
This phrase serves as a musical refrain.
TOUGH LOVE!
The song is intended as a form of tough love to encourage smokers to quit.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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