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WHEN THE WALLS CAME DOWN

from NEW YORK STATE OF MIND by Bill Mallonee

/

about

This song was deeply inspired by novel "Christ in Concrete" by Pietro di Donato. A must read, "Christ in Concrete" is profoundly rich in imagery and dialogue, so much so that di Donato was heralded as the Italian-American "Steinbeck" for his gripping focus on the plight and abuse of Italian immigrants and construction workers just prior to and during the great Depression.
The novel is highly auto-biographical.
The book, which made di Donato famous, was inspired by the death of di Donato's father in a construction accident on Good Friday in 1923. It tells the story of a bricklayer and his struggle to provide a home for his family.

As indicated by the title, the novel is noted for its rich religious imagery, presented in a largely modernist stream-of-consciousness style...a beautiful and engaging book...timeless and heart rending. ~ bill mallonee

lyrics

WHEN THE WALLS CAME DOWN words/music: bill mallonee

when the walls came down
i saw my life...flash before my eyes
it wasn't as frightening...as i thought it would be
5 & 6 came together
number 7 was on the way...we would call her Teresa
after the saint

chorus:
when the walls came down
everything became as water
when the walls came down
falling bricks & mortar
it's raining, it's raining on me

tried to tell the foreman
you don't push your materials past whatever
weight they were ever meant to bear
But, with a shrug of the shoulders,
his eyes cast down & a shaking of head
100 souls...vanish in thin air

Writing the chapters
Building the cities up for nickels and for dimes
building America....one brick at a time
you come here with some dreams
ya' leave here berated, numb & null
...expendable

credits

from NEW YORK STATE OF MIND, released February 3, 2016
Bill Mallonee: 6 & 12 string and hi-string acoustic guitars, electric and baritone guitars, vocals, bass, drums, orchestral harp.

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Bill Mallonee

Bill Mallonee is an Americana artist w/ 80 plus albums over a 30 year career. Voted by Paste Music Magazine #65 in their "Top 100 Living Songwriters" poll. He was the
founding member of Vigilantes of Love. He has worked with Mark Heard, Buddy Miller, Emmylou Harris, & Peter Buck from REM.
His most recent work, "Lead On, Kindly Light" is a 23song double Cd released Feb 2020. ... more

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