Mermaid's Avenue

Mermaid's Avenue is a song written by American troubador Woody Guthrie. The song is the namesake of the street where Guthrie lived in his later years, Mermaid Avenue in Coney Island,New York. There, he was an active participant in the thriving cultural and political scene of Brooklyn's Jewish community. The title of this song later served as the project title for the Wilco and Billy Bragg album Mermaid Avenue.

Related Topics:
Troubador - Woody Guthrie - Namesake - Coney Island - New York - Wilco - Billy Bragg - Mermaid Avenue

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The lyrics desrcibe Guthrie's vision of America in microcosm. All sorts of unlikely comings and goings transpire, with meetings between unlikely characters. The scene, although fervent, is not always pretty, leading him to wonder in the song's refrain, "Why they call it Mermaid Avenue, that?s more than I can see."

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