Story Behind The Song

I was walking home from work and stopped in to do some grocery shopping at the store around the conrner from my apt in NYC. The familiar needy face of the gentle homeless man in front of the store...was wearing a red white and blue bandana on his head. The line...He wore the colors of his country on a scarf around his head came to me...I wrote it down immediately...did my shopping...gave him what I could...then walked home to my apt and wrote this song in 20 minutes...It kind of wrote itself.

Song Description

The day to day description of a homeless Vietnam Veteran living on the streets of NYC. The emotional description of the people in the neighborhood who know him and try to give what little they can to help someone who has served our country. This song describes his humble thankfulness of his survival, and his hopes and dreams of someday having something better.

Lyrics

City Lights

He wore the colors of his country on a scarf around his head
He'd beg for money all day long, and when the evening skies turned red
He'd slowly walk on down the street towards an alley he called home
Lay his head down on a box, and he'd start to sing this song

City Lights, Shine on me tonight
Cause I know in my heart there is a better way
Living In a land where things glisten for all the world to see
You're the only lights that shine on me

He wakes up every morning at the local hardware store
The diner gives him coffee, he never asks for more
And when the sun sets, he thanks The Lord, he's made it one more day
Late at night if you listen hard, you can hear him say

City Lights, Shine on me tonight
Cause I know in my heart there is a better way
Living In a land where things glisten for all the world to see
You're the only lights that shine on me

City Lights (shine on me tonight, I know there's a better way)
City Lights (shine on me tonight)
Shine on me too

City Lights, (shine on me tonight)
City Lights (I know there's a better way)
City Lights