Our hometown was quiet back then, when some small-time youth gangs began a turf war. Nothing too serious, so I used them as fodder and wrote Prisoners. It was my three-minute attempt at turning their conflict into a mini West Side Story.
We booked Round Sound in Toronto and got our feet wet in a quality recording studio.
I still enjoy the pops and scratchy warm sound from the analog two-inch tape recordings. It wasn't perfect, but there's some stellar playing here.
Lyrics
Verse One
I saw two white boys in click rhythm
Moving through their paces
Black leathers hard in a mid-day sun
Small time curses
Chorus
Enter side street wars and lover’s dance in drag
Life wheelers pause in bloody romance
And eye to eye - I see leather fall
This day uncovered
Do you think I’m the only one
Who hides away - (Who hides away - Who hides Away)
Verse Two
We’re hardened senses encased in steel
For such a long time we remain along
Self-exiled just one last time
From lover’s arms, this wing must fly
Verse Three
These moments misunderstood
Are they justified
For here we stand sheltered home and dry
Prisoners - in fear
We close our eyes.
Chorus
© Fredrick Brooks 1982
