"Pawn Shop Boulevard", a Song About Hitting Rock Bottom with Bruce Hilliard

It started with a suggestion to do a slow Wish You Were Here Pink Floydian thing. That song is about 63 BPM...really slow...about the speed of resting heart beat. Ah, Pink Floyd.

Other than the tempo and the 12-string guitar, this song has no resemblance to the David Gilmour, Roger Waters title cut. But there is a sneaky theme similarity.

The subject is wishing his former wife is still with him. He lost her and the years have passed. Throughout the years he’s worn the diamond wedding ring he gave her, in her absence, and finally, after asking the question “Where do you go when you need someone to hold?” he gives in, sells it and spends the money on a lady of the night. But it’s not what you think.

 

Pawn Shop Boulevard

Looking through the bars on Pawn Shop Boulevard

Used guns, and jewelry and old guitars

I don’t need no bling, just the memories

Of that wedding ring I wore on my hand

And now I know what I really want

And now I know what I really need

After all these years I'd kinda like to know

Where do I go, where do I go?

(Chorus 1)

Where do you go, when you need somebody

Where do you go, when you need someone to hold

When you’re looking for a lover and the doors are barred

Down on Pawn Shop Boulevard

(solo)

I know now what I really want

I know now what I really need    

After all these years I'd kinda like to know

Where do I go, where do I go?

(Chorus 2)

Where do you, when you need somebody

Where do you go, when you need someone to hold

I pawned my baby’s ring for a lady of the night

She whispered in my ear it’s gonna be alright

Somewhere there’s a soul with a broken heart 

Down on Pawn Shop Boulevard