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about
We live in a world fascinated by the bright lights of big cities. They tower over everything, so flashy and famous and forever. The interstates and airports connect them, so you can get to the action in a heartbeat. But between these major cities is a neverending network of small towns, full of people being born, growing up, living, and growing old in their own hidden worlds. We exist in this place. If you blink, you might miss us.
The small town experience, to me, is so complicated, at times so frustrating, but to the luckiest of us, so magical. If you're reading this,
your small town experience probably looks a lot of mine did. Rockwood TN, a city wrapped around some train tracks, at the foot of a hill with a Christmas-light star at the top. The internet says we hover around 5,000 folks. From the inside, it just feels like everybody.
Like so many, wanderlust took me away as a teenager, across oceans, onto stages, and through phases. I still visit, occasionally in the flesh, but often in my dreams. I wonder if I didn't take my small town childhood for granted. When I visit, and walk those quiet streets, I can feel that I'm still a part of the fabric of my small town and it is still a part of the fabric of me. I take comfort in it.
These are the ideas and feelings that helped me bring this song to life.
For you and I, this is a Rockwood song. But if you're from the infinity of other small towns, just plug your Mainstreet into the chorus and sing with us.
I was touched to be asked to perform at Rockwood's 150th birthday party, and it always feels ugly to show up without a present. So, here it is. This song is my gift to Rockwood. The song is "name your price," even if you have nothing to give at all, and all the money that ever comes through will go directly to the Rockwood High School Band, which is dear to my heart, still.
Long Live Small Town America and Go Tigers.
William Wright, RHS Class of 1998
lyrics
Gateway Streetlights
by w wright
I grew up just over there
past the junkyard, up the mountain,
behind a greenhouse
you grew up just over there
Eagle Furnace, or Wheeler Street,
or at the daycares.
Might not look like much from the outside
but to us, it was everything
Might not look like much from the outside
but to us it was everything
You can’t know what it’s like
unless you grew up under these
Gateway Streetlights
I grew up on Friday Night
Tiger Rag in Green and Gold, in marching bands
I grew up on Friday nights
in parking lots and backyards making master plans
you can't know what it's like
unless you grew up under these
Gateway Streetlights
credits
released March 10, 2018
written and performed by William Wright
drums and by Matt Honkonen
Engineered and Mastered by MH, Feb 2018 at Pitchwire
Photograph property of The City of Rockwood, no infringement intended.
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