The Sidewalks Of New York

(a.k.a. "East Side, West Side")

Words & Music:

James Blake & Charles Lawlor (1894)

 

James Blake was a hat salesman.  After Lawlor played his tune to him, Blake came up with the lyrics while plying his trade.  Al Smith used this for his campaign song in 1928.  Almost no one remembers the verse.  Thanks to Jim Bottorff for including it with his wonderful arrangement!  Others just take the verse and put it to the tune of the chorus and sing it as the second verse to this song.  Oh, and sometimes "Jackie" plays the organ instead of "Tony".

 

 

Verse:

G       D7       G       C                G

Down in front of Casey's old brown wooden stoop,

C             G      E7   A9             D7

On a summer's evening, we formed a merry group.

G         D7     G       C                 G

Boys and girls together, we would sing and waltz,

      C    Gdim       G     E7+  E7  A7        D7     G   D7

While Tony played the organ on-- the sidewalks of New York.

 

CHORUS:

G          D7   G7    C     Am    D7 G  G7

East Side, West Side, all around the town,

    C           C#dim   G     E7+ E7  A7                D7

The tots sang, "Ring-a--Rosy, Lon-don Bridge is falling down."

G        D7      G       C              G

Boys and girls together, me and Mamie O'Rourke,

C                    G      E7+  E7  A7        D7     G

Tripped the light fantastic on-- the sidewalks of New York.