(The) Harvey Danger Database

Drive across the country, tell your story walking
No one’s keeping you captive
In the town that let you down, so sorry

Blame it on the television, blame it on the company
Don’t blame it on the fundamental fact
That no one owes you something

I’ve come about my share, I only want what’s fair
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not greedy
Like everybody else, I wanna pay my dues
I only want someone to tell me who to make the check out to

“Maybe we could run away and start
A little repertory movie house or something…”
She said, “Sorry, but I think you might be just projecting
But here’s the dough”

Pike Street
to Park Slope, Brooklyn

A community of dabblers
Who are vain and fond of biting backs
We hate it when our friends become successful¹

And a different school
Whose energies are spent evading income tax
And silicone enhancements by the breastful

“Maybe we could run away and start
A little repertory movie house or something…”
She said, “Sorry, but I think you might be just projecting onto me
Why don’t you try L.A.?”

Pike Street
to Park Slope, Brooklyn

When you like something, it’s an opinion
But when I like something, it’s a manifesto
Pomposity is when you always think you’re right
Arrogance is when you know

“Maybe we could start a little independent
Repertory movie house or something…”
She said, “Sorry, but I think you might be just protecting your investment
Or else assigning blame”

Pike Street
to Park Slope, Brooklyn

Sean: "Pike Street" was an obvious departure, attempted arrangements included the whole band, but it just worked better with piano and later cello; Jeff was reluctant to play piano, and we're all happy he relented; another true story, though not one that happened to any of us—it was based on a document that made the rounds of local newspapers detailing the futile (and bitter) efforts of a Seattle movie theater owner to close the Pike Street Cinema and open one in NYC; I remember being struck by how he blamed the cities for the failure of his businesses, as though they owed him something; I remember also finding it touching, since running a small independent moviehouse has always been one of my quiet dreams; wish I had changed the Morrissey quote to "debate it when our friends become successful," as I have since done for live shows; many people's favorite HD song, and definitely in my top 5.^10A

Sean: True story: A man once sold his struggling 49-seat Seattle moviehouse to open one in New York, where he felt the audiences would be less provincial, more receptive to his bold vision for cinema programming. A couple years later, he returned, broke, broken, and bitter. Things went no better there than they had here. He had run out of cities to blame. It should happen to everyone once.^P&F