In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
If you think you can, well come on man
I was a Green Beret in Vietnam
No more of your fairy stories
'Cause I got my other worries
Fifty-third and third standing on the street
Fifty-third and third I'm tryin' to turn a trick
Fifty-third and third you're the one they never pick
Fifty-third and third don't it make you feel sick?
If you think you can, well come on man
I was a Green Beret in Vietnam
No more of your fairy stories
'Cause I got my other worries
Fifty-third and third standing on the street
Fifty-third and third I'm tryin' to turn a trick
Fifty-third and third you're the one they never pick
Fifty-third and third don't it make you feel sick?
Then I took out my razor blade
Then I did what God forbade
Now the cops are after me
But I proved that I'm no sissy
Fifty-third and third standing on the street
Fifty-third and third I'm tryin' to turn a trick
Fifty-third and third you're the one they never pick
Fifty-third and third don't it make you feel sick?
Fifty-third and third
Fifty-third and third
Fifty-third and third
Fifty-third and third
Fifty-third and third
Fifty-third and third
Fifty-third and third
Fifty-third and third
I was a Green Beret in Vietnam
No more of your fairy stories
'Cause I got my other worries
Fifty-third and third standing on the street
Fifty-third and third I'm tryin' to turn a trick
Fifty-third and third you're the one they never pick
Fifty-third and third don't it make you feel sick?
If you think you can, well come on man
I was a Green Beret in Vietnam
No more of your fairy stories
'Cause I got my other worries
Fifty-third and third standing on the street
Fifty-third and third I'm tryin' to turn a trick
Fifty-third and third you're the one they never pick
Fifty-third and third don't it make you feel sick?
Then I took out my razor blade
Then I did what God forbade
Now the cops are after me
But I proved that I'm no sissy
Fifty-third and third standing on the street
Fifty-third and third I'm tryin' to turn a trick
Fifty-third and third you're the one they never pick
Fifty-third and third don't it make you feel sick?
Fifty-third and third
Fifty-third and third
Fifty-third and third
Fifty-third and third
Fifty-third and third
Fifty-third and third
Fifty-third and third
Fifty-third and third
Lyrics submitted by rainbow_radness, edited by Tricky1979
53rd & 3rd Lyrics as written by Jeff Hyman Douglas Colvin
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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it is about dee dee's prostitution. mickey confirms this, so does dee dee, but its up to you whether you'll believe it or not. during a recent trip to new york to research the ramones, i visited 53rd and 3rd, which is not too far from 5th avenue. it is now a street like any other, and no longer a spot for male prostitution.
I thought it was about Rambo until I noticed the stuff about turnin' tricks.
@alk3machine 14 years later.... I was just thinking "Hey, maybe that song is about Rambo". So I googled "53 and 3rd lyrics rambo" and nothing interested happened, so i changed for "53 and 3rd lyrics meaning" and here we are. Not so cool a singing about a male hooker. =)
Most of you are stupid 53rd and 3rd is an interesection in NYC where lots of male prostitutes hung around trying to "turn a trick" (catch the eye of a john)
In this case, the whore was a green beret In vietnam. He stands on the corner, but never gets picked. When he finally does, he took out his razor blade and did what God forbade (he killed the john) to prove that he isn't a sissy, and now the cops are after him
I love the ramones we need more bands like this.
kitten...i think metallica does 53rd and 3rd on the tribute- kiss does do you remember rock-n-roll radio
yeah, its metallica.
I love the Ramones too, and more young people who like today's "punk" should listen to the Ramones and hear how it all started! by the way, this song is about Dee Dee's time spent as a young male hooker on the corner of 53rd & 3rd in Manhatten
there is a cover on this Ramones TRibute cd. it is awsome it is covered by kiss i think and it is so cool because you get in to dee dee's mind. kinda a see what he sees .. and feel what he feels i think it is just deeper that the words it is the emotions that he feels
i also think it is about proving to people that he isn't a wuss and just fucks someone wwho tried to fuck him over it you catch my drift
long live the ramones. Best song of my life.
It makes sooooo much more sense this way..i thought the first verse 2nd line was "I wore a green barette in vietnam"
I thought it was about Rambo until I noticed the stuff about turnin' tricks. He just wanted some food, man.