Several of Streetlight's members were already well known among the New Jersey ska community for their roles in past ska bands from that area, most notably Catch 22's Tomas Kalnoky, James Egan, Mike Soprano, and Josh Ansley, as well as One Cool Guy's Stuart Karmatz, Pete Sibilia, Dan Ross, and Chris Paszik.
The band's first album, Everything Goes Numb, was released on August 26, 2003, and was distributed by Victory Records. They headlined their first ever show at Rutgers University on December 9, 2003 in front of a sold out audience.
The line-up has gone through several changes since the band's conception and currently consists of Matt Stewart on trumpet, Mike Brown on alto and baritone saxophone, Jim Conti on alto and tenor saxophone, Tomas Kalnoky on guitar and lead vocals, Pete McCullaugh on bass guitar, Karl Lyden on trombone, and Chris Thatcher on drums.
Though the band has enjoyed little mainstream commercial success, they have received acclaim in alternative music circles, and their debut album is currently in Interpunk.com's top 100 items, over 2 years after its release. In addition, they regularly sell out their live shows, and their first few shows at Rutgers and The Stone Pony not only sold out, but had people coming from as far as Minnesota and Canada. Their second album, a reworking of Catch 22's Keasbey Nights was released on March 7, 2006.
Streetlight Manifesto's third album, entitled Somewhere in the Between came out on November 13, 2007. Rumors also have it that the band is currently working on a series of 8 albums entitled "The 99 Songs of Revolution" in co-operation with Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution, a side-project of singer Tomas Kalnoky slated for release in early 2009.
On November 17, 2009, the band's website announced that "99 Songs of Revolution: Volume One" has been ready for release for quite some time but "some record labels are just plain horrendous." They are also in the process of arranging a tour for 2010 but will spend some time in the studio until they have "a few records to release."
The first album of 99 Songs of Revolution was released on March 16, 2010. On this CD, the band covered songs by artists such as The Postal Service, Radiohead, and NOFX.
Band Members:
Mike Brown - Baritone Sax
Karl Lyden - Trombone
Jim Conti - Tenor Sax
Matt Stewart - Trumpet
Chris Thatcher - Drums
Tomas Kalnoky - Guitar, Vocals
Pete McCullaugh - Bass
www.streetlightmanifesto.com
Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard
Streetlight Manifesto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And she ran to the police station
When the papa found out he began to shout
And he started the investigation
It's against the law
It was against the law
What the mama saw
The mama looked down and spit on the ground
Every time my name gets mentioned
The papa said 'oi if I get that boy
I’m gonna stick him in the house of detention'
Well I'm on my way
I don't know where I'm going
I'm on my way
I'm taking my time but I don't know where
Goodbye to Rosie the queen of Corona
See me and Julio down by the schoolyard
See me and Julio down by the schoolyard
In a couple of days they come and take me away
But the press let the story leak
And when the radical priest come to get me released
We was all on the cover of Newsweek
And I'm on my way
I don't know where I'm going
I'm on my way I'm taking my time
But I don't know where
Goodbye to Rosie the queen of Corona
See me and Julio
Down by the schoolyard
See me and Julio
Down by the schoolyard
Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard is a song by Streetlight Manifesto, originally written by Paul Simon. The song talks about a teenager who is in trouble with the law after being caught by the mother of a friend doing something illegal in a public place. The boy is on the run, taking his time to figure out where he's going, saying goodbye to Rosie (who is allegedly the queen of Corona), while he hangs out with his friend Julio down by the schoolyard. The song has a light and whimsical tone, with a catchy melody that belies the darker undertones of the lyrics.
The story of the song is quite simple and straightforward, but there are a few nuances that make it interesting. For one, the boy is never explicit about what he did that was against the law. It could be anything from vandalism to drug use, but the vagueness of the situation adds to the song's charm. Additionally, the song is set in a time when radical activism was becoming more prevalent, and the mention of a "radical priest" in the lyrics shows that the boy's plight has become a kind of social issue. Finally, the fact that the song is set in Corona, Queens, which was a predominantly Latinx neighborhood, gives the song a multicultural flavor that is both unique and authentic.
Aside from its artistry and cultural significance, the song has also been covered by various artists and has been used in popular movies and TV shows. It remains a classic of the folk-rock genre, known for its catchy chorus and upbeat tempo.
Line by Line Meaning
The mama pajama rolled out of bed
The mother quickly got out of bed
And she ran to the police station
She hurried to the police station
When the papa found out he began to shout
Upon learning about it, the father yelled
And he started the investigation
He initiated an investigation
It's against the law
It goes against the law
It was against the law
It went against the law
What the mama saw
What the mother witnessed
It was against the law
It went against the law
The mama looked down and spit on the ground
The mother was angry and expressed it by spitting on the ground
Every time my name gets mentioned
Whenever my name comes up
The papa said 'oi if I get that boy
The father threatened 'If I catch that boy
I’m gonna stick him in the house of detention'
I'll put him in jail'
Well I'm on my way
I'm currently heading somewhere
I don't know where I'm going
But I'm not sure where I'm headed
I'm on my way
I'm still traveling
I'm taking my time but I don't know where
I'm moving slowly, but I don't know my destination
Goodbye to Rosie the queen of Corona
Farewell to Rosie, the crowned one of Corona
See me and Julio down by the schoolyard
Spot me and Julio at the schoolyard
In a couple of days they come and take me away
In just a few days they will take me
But the press let the story leak
But the media exposed the story to the public
And when the radical priest come to get me released
And when the radical priest comes to free me
We was all on the cover of Newsweek
We were all featured on the Newsweek cover
And I'm on my way
And I'm still on my way
I don't know where I'm going
I'm still unsure of my destination
I'm on my way I'm taking my time
I'm still on the move, not in a rush
But I don't know where
But I'm uncertain of my exact location
Goodbye to Rosie the queen of Corona
Farewell to Rosie, the crowned one of Corona
See me and Julio
Spot me and Julio
Down by the schoolyard
At the schoolyard
See me and Julio
Spot me and Julio
Down by the schoolyard
At the schoolyard
Contributed by Jake F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.