Dark End of the Street

from Tequila Mockingbird by Reuben Walton

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about

My cover of the soul classic "The Dark End of the Street", a 1967 soul song written by Muscle Shoals songwriters Dan Penn and Chips Moman and first performed by James Carr. The song is a lament from an adulterer to his illicit lover, told from the adulterer's point of view. They continue their sin, "hiding in shadows where [they] don't belong" because their "love keeps comin' on strong." At the climax of the song, the narrator fears "they're gonna find us some day." For LGBTQ+ purposes, the song could easily be about someone in the closet if you think about it in terms of lyrics, such as "it's a sin and we know it's wrong." which could reflect the narrator coming from an oppressive, bigoted religious background, leading them to think that they "know" it's wrong. Performed in the key of C, on my Taylor 214ce electric acoustic guitar, with my capo on the 4th fret. I decided to cover this song after hearing Cat Power's beautiful rendition of it on her Dark End of the Street EP released in 2008.

lyrics

At the dark end of the street
that is where we always meet
hiding in shadows where we don't belong
living in darkness, to right our wrong
You and me, at the dark end of the street
You and me

I know time's gonna take its toll
we have to pay for the love we stole
It's a sin and we know it's wrong
but our love keeps comin' on strong
Steal away to the dark end of the street

And when the daylight hours roll around
And if by chance we're both taken in and taken downtown
well if we should meet before then and just walk on by
oh sweet baby, please, don't you cry
'cause tonight we can share the same dreams
at the dark end of the street
you and me
at the dark end of the street

credits

from Tequila Mockingbird, released December 30, 2010
Vocals by Reuben Walton
Vocal production by Reuben Walton
Lyrics by Wallace Daniel Pennington and Lincoln Wayne Moman
Guitar by Reuben Walton
Composed by Wallace Daniel Pennington and Lincoln Wayne Moman
Programming by Reuben Walton
Produced by Reuben Walton
Mixed by Reuben Walton
Edited by Reuben Walton
Artwork by Alyssa McCann

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Reuben Walton Falmouth, Massachusetts

Reuben Walton is a singer/songwriter and music producer based in Falmouth, MA. He is a graduate of Musicians Institute in Hollywood's Independent Artist program and their Electronic Music Production program, as well as UMass Lowell’s Music Business undergraduate program.
In 2019 he put out a self-titled EP working with producer AVLI Music and is now regularly releasing new music. ... more

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