Cathedral of the Heart
We live a block from Times Square. I’ve lived here for over 25 years and seen it change greatly for the better. It’s got a little bit of everything. That’s probably why it’s always wall-to-wall tourists. See the Big Apple and all its glories.
It’s main attraction is that it is the heart of the Broadway Theater District and that’s always a good thing – full of creativity and most often extremely well done. But it also has its seedier side as well. The porn shops are not as prevalent, but they’re still there. There are many new and glamorous hotels, but there’s still the Carter (poor Jimmy) and the Idaho – dumps where you wouldn’t want to touch the walls with your bare hands.
It attracts all kinds of people though – all gawking at one another, all out for a good time. All walking down the sidewalk much slower than the average New Yorker because they’re all looking up at the tall buildings. It’s become impossible to walk down the sidewalk if you’re in a hurry (and what New Yorker isn’t?). So my wife and I just take to the streets and take our chances with the traffic.
Before Disney moved in, 42nd Street was the armpit of the nation. You could literally buy anything yo’ little ol’ heart desired right on the street – scalper’s tix, drugs, sex, even kids. Now it’s been cleaned up and “touristified”. It’s certainly better, but is still, unfortunately, all about a shallowness of attraction that makes me squirm – it being my back yard.
The toughest part of it all is the down-and-outs – the people who came to the Big Apple to make it, and not only didn’t, but got eaten alive by the big city. The cops keep ‘em moving to protect the tourists, but they’re still there, living off the land – or perhaps the concrete.
It’s about depression. It’s tough to watch. It’s sometimes sad to be a part of. You can’t help being a part of it living here. It’s the ‘hood. The range of human expression in NYC is so great, going from the very rich and elegant to the saddest of derelict – all in the same block. It’s this kind of panorama that I live and work in. It’s not always of my choosing, but it’s home.
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link
Lately it’s like I’m livin’
In some filthy Times Square cheap hotel room
Fear in every corner
Flashing neon in the night
Fighting all my demons
Though I’m losing in the battle
And I’m trapped here in the shadows
To the Devil’s mad delight
Nothing seems to work for me
I hate this life for all its trouble
Give me one excuse
And I could pack it all in
No one seems to give a damn
I hate myself for all I am
Yet one thing remembered
One thing somebody said
Still runs through my head
Yeah it still runs through my head
If you pierce through the fabric
And get down beneath the skin
You can open up a hole
And let the love come in
Then love will have its way with you
And tear the veil apart
Til’ it leaves you standin’
In the cathedral of the heart
Love will leave you standin’
In the cathedral of the heart
Yes it will leave you standin’
In the cathedral of the heart
But I can’t seem to get out of this
Filthy Times Square cheap hotel room
It’s burned into my mind
An’ I just can’t let go
Everywhere I turn it’s just a
Mucked up mess of pure frustration
Crashing through my life
An’ I just can’t say “no”
If I could just listen to
The two cents someone tried to tell me
Turn my life around
Before I crash and burn
Take the best that’s for the taking
Shake the habits that need breaking
Take a hold of my life
When will I ever learn to follow my light
Oh I just got to to follow my light
And it will leave me standin’
In the cathedral of the heart
I can feel it now
Love is havin’ its way with me
And it will leave me standin’
In the cathedral of the heart
Light light
Can you see the light?!!
Thank you lord
I got shoes on my feet
I got somethin’ to eat
I got the air that I breathe
An’ I thank you for lovin’ me
I jus’ wanna say
Hallelujah
‘Cause love has freed me
An’ right now
I make a promise to you
To do all I can do
To keep your love runnin’ through me
An’ your light comin’ to me
Take a hold of my life
An’ turn to that light
And let love lead
And leave me standing
In the cathedral of the heart
Yes love will leave me standin’
In the cathedral of the heart!
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