Shindell's songwriting often involves storytelling from a first-person point of view: for example, from an INS officer and illegal immigrant in "Fishing", to a World War II soldier in "Sparrows Point", to a Confederate drummerboy in "Arrowhead", to an Argentine grandmother of Plaza de Mayo in "Abuelita", to a power broker in "Confession".
His first album was released in 1991. Shindell collaborated with Dar Williams, and Lucy Kaplansky to form the group Cry Cry Cry. On their eponymous 1998 album, Cry Cry Cry covered an eclectic mix of songwriters, from the famous R.E.M. to the lesser known folk singer James Keelaghan. The trio toured in support of their album, but later resumed their solo careers. They have not mentioned plans for future recordings, although Shindell and Kaplansky often appear on stage together. Shindell's "The Ballad of Mary Magdalen" (as performed by Cry Cry Cry) was used in the background during an ABC News Nightline report on The DaVinci Code.
Shindell's career received a boost in 1997 when Joan Baez recorded three of his songs ("Fishing", "Reunion Hill" and "Money for Floods") for her album Gone from Danger, and invited him to join her 1997-98 tour.
In 2000, Shindell released Somewhere Near Paterson (Signature Sounds), which quickly became his most successful release to date and established Shindell as one of the premier performing songwriters in popular music.
Somewhere Near Paterson was followed by Courier, the live reprise of many of Shindell’s best-loved songs, in support of which he continues to tour.
Also in 2000, Shindell and his family moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he recorded his latest album, Vuelta, released in 2004. He joined up with an Argentine group, Puente Celeste, to create a unique sound for his newest work.
He released Somewhere South of Delia, a record of cover songs, March 2007.
Discography:
Sparrows Point (1992)
Blue Divide (1995)
Reunion Hill (1997)
Somewhere Near Paterson (2000)
Courier (2002)
Vuelta (2004)
Somewhere South of Delia (2007)
Not Far Now (2009)
13 Songs You May Or May Not Have Heard Before (2011)
Tomorrow You're Going (2015), with Lucy Kaplansky
Careless (2016)
Easy Street
Richard Shindell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
are the dreams all made solid
are the dreams all made real
all of the buildings, all of those cars
were once just a dream
in somebody's head
she pictures the broken glass, she pictures the steam
she pictures a soul
lets take the boat out
wait until darkness
let's take the boat out
wait until darkness comes
nowhere in the corridors of pale green and grey
nowhere in the suburbs
in the cold light of day
there in the midst of it so alive and alone
words support like bone
dreaming of mercy st.
wear your inside out
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy('s arms again
dreaming of mercy st.
'swear they moved that sign
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy's arms
pulling out the papers from the drawers that slide smooth
tugging at the darkness, word upon word
confessing all the secret things in the warm velvet box
to the priest-he's the doctor
he can handle the shocks
dreaming of the tenderness-the tremble in the hips
of kissing Mary's lips
dreaming of mercy st.
wear your insides out
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy's arms again
dreaming of mercy st.
'swear they moved that sign
looking for mercy
in your daddy's arms
mercy, mercy, looking for mercy
mercy, mercy, looking for mercy
Anne, with her father is out in the boat
riding the water
riding the waves on the sea
The lyrics of "Easy Street" by Richard Shindell paint a vivid picture of a woman standing high above the city, looking down on empty streets, and seeing the dreams of the people who once built it. She imagines the broken glass and the steam rising from the pavement, but also envisions a soul that's whole and unbroken. The song goes on to describe a person who's dreaming of "mercy st." and looking for forgiveness or redemption. The lyrics create a sense of longing and searching, but also of hope that there's something better out there.
The song is a reflection on the human condition, on our dreams and our search for something more meaningful in life. It's about the yearning for a better existence, for love and acceptance, and for a sense of belonging. The woman in the song is looking down on the city and imagining what it was like when the dreams of the people were still intact. She sees the potential for something better, but also the pain and brokenness that comes with living in a world that's imperfect.
Line by Line Meaning
looking down on empty streets, all she can see
She gazes upon deserted streets, and all that comes to her sight is the manifestation of dreams, realized and made concrete.
are the dreams all made solid
The dreams she sees before her have taken tangible form and are concrete.
are the dreams all made real
All the aspirations that she sees have been brought to existence and thus are now actual.
all of the buildings, all of those cars
All the architecture and vehicles that are currently present within the visual range of the artist.
were once just a dream
At one point in time, these structures and automobiles were nothing more than an idea in someone's mind.
in somebody's head
Someone had conceptualized these entities before they could be realized by mankind.
she pictures the broken glass, she pictures the steam
The singer imagines fragmented glass and steamy conditions.
she pictures a soul
The person in question can envision an individual.
with no leak at the seam
The individual that she imagines is flawless and faultless in every aspect.
lets take the boat out
She suggests going for a boat ride.
wait until darkness
One should delay until nightfall to embark on the journey.
nowhere in the corridors of pale green and grey
The desolate areas that she gazes upon possess an absence of vibrancy or color.
nowhere in the suburbs
She is unable to locate the areas she seeks among the neighborhoods of residences on the outer edges of cities.
in the cold light of day
This vision of hers is nonexistent in the harsh light of the sun.
there in the midst of it so alive and alone
However, amid this dull landscape, her imagination comes alive and she feels isolated.
words support like bone
Her imagination becomes the backbone of what she visualizes.
dreaming of mercy st.
The artist envisions a place called Mercy Street in her mind.
wear your inside out
She feels the need to expose herself, to be vulnerable and transparent, to reveal her true self.
in your daddy('s arms again
She thinks of being held within her father's embrace once again to feel safe.
'swear they moved that sign
She feels like the sign indicating the direction to Mercy Street has been displaced or relocated.
pulling out the papers from the drawers that slide smooth
She retrieves documents from drawers that glide without friction.
tugging at the darkness, word upon word
The darkness that she's trying to atone for - she's grappling with it, one word at a time.
confessing all the secret things in the warm velvet box
She reveals the insidious truths from deep within her, hidden away up until this moment.
to the priest-he's the doctor
The priest she speaks with is considered a healer, a respectable and trusted figure who is able to provide some relief.
he can handle the shocks
The priest is adept at dealing with these revelations, no matter how strong or violent they might be.
dreaming of the tenderness-the tremble in the hips
She imagines being seduced and caressed with sweet gestures, focusing on specific bodily sensations.
of kissing Mary's lips
One of the specific sensations she imagines is the feeling of kissing Mary's lips.
mercy, mercy, looking for mercy
The artist is searching for human compassion and forgiveness.
Anne, with her father is out in the boat
The scene now changes, and Anne is on a boat trip with her father.
riding the water
Anne and her father are coasting along the surface of the water body beneath them.
riding the waves on the sea
The two of them are riding the wave formations moving atop of the sea waters.
Contributed by Tyler R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.