Streets of Where I'm From
Old 97s · Too Far To Care [1997]
I keep getting in my car but I'm not going anywhere.
And I've been had, well at least that's how it looks -
And it's not funny like on TV and it's not smart like ti is in books.
And I wonder yeah I wonder how the world keeps spinnin' 'round.
Where's a boy with bad intentions gonna settle down?
And I don't know what you've been told,
The streets of where I'm from are paved with hearts instead of gold.
Yeah the streets of where I'm from are paved with hearts instead of gold.
I recall, when I was twenty-three -
Wondering how anyone could fall in love with me.
But now I'm old, hell I'm well past twent-five -
And I can't seem to fall in love no matter how I try.
And I wonder where I'll wind up but I'm headed west I know.
Wind my way through Texas and into New Mexico,
And I don't know what you've been told,
The streets of where I'm from are paved with hearts instead of gold.
Yeah the streets of where I'm from are paved with hearts instead of gold.
And I don't know what you've been told,
The streets of where I'm from are paved with hearts instead of gold.
Yeah the streets of where I'm from are paved with hearts instead of gold.
Yeah the streets of where I'm from are paved with hearts instead of gold.
Streets of Where I'm From
Released in 1997 on the album Too Far To Care, "Streets of Where I'm From" by Old 97s stands as a quintessential example of their signature blend of hip-hop and funk. The track features the group's characteristic laid-back groove, driven by a prominent bassline and steady drum pattern that defines their sound during the late 1990s. Lyrically, the song reflects the group's focus on Southern California culture and the everyday experiences of their community, delivered with the group's trademark smooth vocal harmonies. As a staple of their discography, it exemplifies the fusion of East Coast hip-hop sensibilities with West Coast groove, cementing Old 97s' reputation as a unique force in the genre during that era.