Life Will Set You Free
We arrive in Oakland, Idustrial city that it is
On our way to the bay, we're gonna cross that bridge
Then we're over the water, Hilly City straight ahead
We arrive in San Francisco, home of the Grateful Dead
We spill out into the busy street, I guess it's rush hour time
The buildings toer above us, we grab a bus and ride the line
It's just like a giant caterpillar, one carriage pulls another behind
We disembark in Chinatown, we've got a hostel to find
Green Tortoise is a fine hostel, a little unusual inside
Just over from the City Lights bookstore, Beat Poets hung out there in 50s time
Would Ginsberg use the strip joints, would Keroac browse the porn
The times have changed in this city, morals are a little forlorn
We head west looking for the Hippies, through rich Pacific Heights
We turn south strolling down Filmore, 'til we get to the Haight
There ain't no Haight Asbury sign, and no flowered hippies no more
Just dark and dangerous characters, hanging on the street to score
We find ourselves at Fishermam's Wharf, looking out over the bay
Street musicians and sea food stalls take our breath away
We stroll along getting ever nearer, I wade in the water for free
It's cooling down my aching feet, on it's way to the sea
The Golden Gate looms ever larger, such a magnificent beast
Then we're up there on it, look to the city to the east
Way back on the cliffside, we watch the sun sink in the ocean
I know why they call it the Golden Gate, I feel and see a gold glow of emotion
San Francisco
Finally made it your way
San Francisco
Pretty city on the Bay
San Francisco
Finally made it
Your way
© 2006 Dan Russell
Words & music by Dan Russell
Dan Russell - Lead vocals, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Another acoustic tale of Dan's experiences in the Golden Gate city. Possibly overlong and wordy and in need of fleshing out with harmonies and more instruments, but a catchy chorus nonetheless. "Would Keroac brouse the porn" gives the image of 1950s North Beach crashing head on with modern day Chinatown. The Green Tortoise hostel, where Dan stayed, is on the cusp of the two areas.
