1) The Broadways were … Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name:
1) The Broadways were a punk band from Chicago, Illinois. The group formed in 1996 after the break-up of ska-punk band Slapstick, with their vocalist Brendan Kelly and trumpet player Dan Hanaway combining with Rob DePaola and Tricky Dick guitarist Chris McCaughan.
Musically, The Broadways frequently drew comparisons to Crimpshrine and Jawbreaker. The band is notable for the intelligent political, social, and introspective nature of their lyrics, as well as their complex, non-traditional song structures and above-average punk musicianship.
The band released Broken Star in 1998 on Asian Man Records before breaking up the same year. After the breakup, Kelly and McCaughan formed The Lawrence Arms, while Hanaway and DePaola started The Honor System. A collection of unreleased material and songs collected from their EPs was released posthumously in 2000 as Broken Van.
2) The Broadways were a R&B band from the mid-60's. Line up: Ronnie Coleman, Billy Brown, Leon Trent, Moe . They originally recorded as The Uniques but as The Broadways they released a couple of singles on MGM which are much prized by the Northern Soul fraternity. Billy Brown went on to become a member of The Moments. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFj5GwfqrtU
3) The Broadways are band from West London. They released their debut single 'Just A Dreamy Day' through New Slang Records of Kingston in Novemeber 2007 and it reached number 6 in the UK Indie Charts. The are currently putting the finishing touches to their debut album 'Greetings From The Broadway' with Arctic Monkeys producer Alan Smythe for release in Japan in August. For listeners of The Metros, The Clash and The Hold Steady. www.myspace.com/broadwaysuk
One Man Board of Directors
The Broadways Lyrics
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I guess that's what happens when you're too poor
To be a good kids with good clothes in a bad neighbourhood
That's no good, when pride makes you a traitor to your kind
When his brother was murdered a year ago
It was the same as it is now
As it is now
There's no witness relocation plans for those in slums
I know because my friend could sure use one
Third grade brothers and sisters threatened by grown men
Grown men stand outside while families slowly died, they tried
To talk to Edwin Eisendrath, the chairman of the C.H.A.
He can't find a way to keep one family safe
Nothing's that important to me
Nothing's that important to me
You too sit by the phone waiting for that special girl to call
I used to forget to go on when my days got too long
I've felt really scared but it always went away
It doesn't always go away
The Broadways's song "One Man Board of Directors" is a political commentary on the systemic oppression and neglect of impoverished communities, particularly those living in the public housing projects controlled by the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA). The lyrics depict the struggles and injustices faced by people who are too poor to leave their dangerous neighborhoods, and are left to suffer and die without any support or protection from the authorities.
The song begins with the singer lamenting that his friend cannot go home anymore because he is too poor to fit in with the good kids in his neighborhood. This highlights the social exclusion and class-based discrimination that exists within urban communities, where class differences create tension and division among the poor. The singer suggests that this pride-based divisiveness makes it difficult for people to band together and demand change, instead creating a situation where people betray their own kind.
The second half of the song focuses on the murder of the singer's friend's brother, and the lack of protection or support offered to poor families in crime-ridden neighborhoods. The lyrics emphasize that there is no witness relocation program for those living in the slums, leaving people vulnerable to reprisal attacks and unable to speak out against the violence and injustice they face. The singer laments that even the chairman of the CHA, Edwin Eisendrath, is unable or unwilling to keep one family safe from harm, highlighting the institutional failures and corruption that perpetuate poverty and inequality.
Overall, "One Man Board of Directors" is a powerful and poignant critique of poverty, racism, and neglect in urban America. The song uses vivid imagery and poignant lyrics to bring attention to the struggles and injustices faced by the people who are most vulnerable and marginalized in society.
Line by Line Meaning
My friend can't go home no more
My friend is frightened to go home because of violence in the neighborhood.
I guess that's what happens when you're too poor
Poverty traps people in violent neighborhoods where they don't feel safe.
To be a good kids with good clothes in a bad neighbourhood
It's difficult to be a good person when you're surrounded by violence and poverty.
That's no good, when pride makes you a traitor to your kind
It's hard to ask for help when you're proud, but sometimes that pride can hurt others.
When his brother was murdered a year ago
My friend's brother was killed in the same violent neighborhood.
It was the same as it is now
The neighborhood is still violent and dangerous.
There's no witness relocation plans for those in slums
People in poor neighborhoods don't have the same witness protection as those in wealthier areas.
I know because my friend could sure use one
My friend is afraid to testify against violent criminals because he doesn't feel safe.
Third grade brothers and sisters threatened by grown men
Even children are threatened by adults in this neighborhood.
Grown men stand outside while families slowly died, they tried
Adults in the neighborhood are unwilling or unable to protect families from violence.
To talk to Edwin Eisendrath, the chairman of the C.H.A.
My friend tried to speak to the person in charge of public housing, hoping for help.
He can't find a way to keep one family safe
Even the person in charge of public housing can't find a way to protect families from violence.
Nothing's that important to me
The people in charge don't seem to care about the violence in the neighborhood.
You too sit by the phone waiting for that special girl to call
We all have our problems and worries, but they pale in comparison to the danger and fear in this neighborhood.
I used to forget to go on when my days got too long
Sometimes life is hard and we feel like giving up, but we must keep going.
I've felt really scared but it always went away
I've been scared before, but my fear is nothing compared to what people in this neighborhood face every day.
It doesn't always go away
For people in this neighborhood, fear and danger are always present and never really go away.
Contributed by Brody W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gabe Martinez
Awesome
ben thompson
oh yes!!!! :-)