Electric Avenue

All week long I have been hearing the song Electric Avenue by Eddy Grant. First I heard it at Skateland at Open Skate on Tuesday night, then on some oldies station on the radio and again on an episode of the Simpsons! So I thought I'd better figure out what the Universe is trying to tell me.

Electric Avenue lyrics

Boy

Boy -

Now in the streets there is violence

an-na-na lots of work to be done.

No place to hang all our washing and then I can't blame it all on the sun.

Oh no

we're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue

And then we'll take it higher.

Oh

we're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue

And then we'll take it higher.

Working so hard like a soldier

can't afford the things on T.V.

Deep in my heart I abhore you

can't get food for the kid.

Good God

we're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue . ..

Oh no

oh no

oh no

oh no

Oh Lord

we're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue . . .

Who is to blame in what country? Never can get to the one.

Dealing in multiplication and they still can't feed everyone.

Oh no

we're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue

Out in the streets

out in the streets

Out in the playground in the dark side of town.

Oh

we're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue . . .

Oh

we're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue . . .

The song reached #2 on the charts in 1983. Most American listeners didn't read much into the lyrics, but Grant claims this is a serious song. It refers to a real place in London, and tells the story of a poor man who beholds the things in life he could never achieve. So, does this mean I behold things in my life I will never achieve? What are the secrets to success? Former United Nations Ambassador Alan Keyes says that there are four core values that virtually guarantee your success. These are honesty, giving (rather than taking), busting your tail (being a hard worker), and doing what is right. Haven't I been doing that my entire life? What the hell? Maybe the Universe knows I like that song and "played" it for me?!