This Week's Featured Unknown/Underrated Song: "American City Suite" by Cashman & West

When radio stations messed up, they messed up big time.  This incredible song only reached #27 in 1972.  And, since today's Formula-Based radio stations only play songs that ranked high on the charts, the only music site where you can hear this song is Inside The Rock Era.  Of course, we're happy about that, but it's still a disservice to the public for radio stations not to play this a lot.

Cashman and West were the famous producers behind Jim Croce's greatest hits.

The song of course was written about New York City.  I just returned from there, and I can tell you the worries of Cashman & West did not happen.  It's still a great, great city, there's a plethora of things to do at any hour of the day, and the people are awesome!

"American City Suite"

Cashman & West

Written by Terry Cashman and Tommy West

People going, coming 
Traffic always humming 
A sweet city song 
Everyone your neighbor
Living at a flavor 
With a sweet city song 

There was a certain way 
That the city sound 
Made you glad you belonged 
I remember now 
That the rhythm somehow 
Made me want to sing along 

Do do do do, sweet city song 
Do do do do, sweet city song 
Oh, come on along 

Boxes on a brick wall 
Boys are playing stickball 
The chicks are walking by 
Something bout their sweaters 
Made you play a little better 
Or at least you'd try 

Meanwhile on the corner 
A group is singing 
In three-part harmony 
There was a time 
When you couldn't find 
A better place to be 

Do do do do, sweet city song 
Do do do do, sweet city song 
Do do do do, sweet city song 
Come on 

Johnny, ride the pony 
The Dodger's own sym-phoney 
An egg cream at the 
Corner candy store 
Radio and dancing slow 
Who could ask for more 

Do do do do, sweet city song 
Do do do do, sweet city song 
Do do do do, sweet city song 
Come on along 

Hello, Jack, it's good to be back 
I been away at school 
Yeah, Ed, I heard what you said 
You know that I'm no fool 

I know that it's changing 
I see that it's changed 
I know that it's changing 
I see that it's changed 

But goodbye is too hard 
For me to say 
When I still believe 
The good things 
Outweigh the bad 

I think of all the 
Good times we had 
Think of all the 
Good times we had 

A junkie steals, a mayor deals 
Who knows what's coming next 
Traffic jams and greedy hands 
Did you read it in the text 

Of the daily news 
The subway blues 
How does your garden grow 
And the strikes and the likes 
All lined up in a row 

Something is wrong here 
It doesn't belong here 
People are locking themselves 
Behind their own four walls 

It falls from the skies here 
But no one's surprised here 
And maybe that's the 
Saddest part of all 

Jesus freaks 
Mohammed speaks 
The Lord is on their team 
Tenements and midtown rents 
Rich and poor live in between 

Say a prayer and breathe the air 
In the cold or heat 
When evening falls, the city calls 
But the lights only shine 
On empty streets 

Something is wrong here 
Doesn't belong here 
People are locking themselves 
Behind their own four walls 

Falls from the skies here 
No one's surprised here 
Maybe that's the 
Saddest part of all 

Something is wrong here 
Doesn't belong here 
People are locking themselves 
Behind their own four walls 

Falls from the skies here 
No one's surprised here 
Maybe that's the 
Saddest part of all 

I think of her 
I think of life's own music 
At least that's the way 
It used to be 

I think of her and I 
See the children laughing 
But it's only on the streets 
Of my memory 

And I never felt so lonely 
And so helpless 
Wishing that I didn't 
Know the truth 

But they tell me 
That a friend is dying 
And there's nothing 
In this world I can do 

When she was good 
It was, oh, so good 
You were blessed 
If she smiled on you 

You could be king 
If she believed your story 
When it was over 
If she laughed at you 

Now I've never felt so lonely 
And so helpless 
I'm wishing that I 
Didn't know the truth 

They tell me 
That a friend is dying 
And there is nothing 
In this world that I can do 

The hands that used to 
Reach out to everybody 
Now they're lying by her side 

And her eyes are closed 
No one really knows 
If she can make it through 
Another night 

Still most of what I love 
Is locked inside her 
Everything I thought 
I'd ever need 

My heart keeps crying 
You've got to hold on 
A little bit longer 
But my head is sure 
That it's time to leave 

And I've never felt so lonely 
And so helpless 
I'm wishing that I 
Didn't know the truth 

And they tell me that 
My friend is dying 
And there's nothing 
In this world that I can do 

I've never felt so lonely 
And so helpless 
I'm wishing that I 
Didn't know the truth 

They tell me that 
A friend, a friend is dying 

Oh, New York City 
Can you say it ain't true 
Can you tell me now 
Before I'm leaving you 

I'd give anything I own 
Just to believe in you again