Interpretation:

Darryl: We know going into any Wallflowers song that the lyrics are going to be difficult. 6th Avenue Heartache is a particularly difficult song to interpret. The obvious interpretation involves a man digesting the pain in the lives around him. A closer look, however, reveals a deeper complexity. Jakob Dylan and the Wallflowers are taking on the specific pain of war, just like Dylan's Father did. In a brilliant twist, however, they have decided to look at the after-effects of a "just" war, World War II. At a time when we are rapidly losing loved ones from the Greatest Generation the Wallflowers point out our lack of appreciation for those that risked their lives so we can live free.

Jerry: Thank you Darryl, we are all refreshed and 'challenged' by your unique point of view. I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce. I will be choosing to disregard approximately 97% of what he just said. The one true nugget of knowledge is that any song by the Wallflowers is going to be difficult if not impossible to decode. Darryl, had you of done ANY research on this song, it would have shown that he (Jacob Dylan) wrote this song when he was only 18 years old while growing up in New York. This song most definitely takes place in New York. Having one's world strapped against one's back can be rather symbolic. For him, I would assume his world was his music and a guitar is commonly strapped to ones back when transporting it from one place to another. But back to the song's settings... 6th Avenue is a fairly well known street in New York. It is located East of the Holland Tunnel, which goes through the Hudson River. There are subway stops around 6th Avenue and a residential area in which I believe Jacob must have lived in his youth. The reason I mention this is to solidify the fact that Jacob is speaking of New York. He mentions 'The river winds move my feet' which is explained by the Hudson River. He mentions 'Subway steam, like silhouettes in a dream'. Then there are obvious stereotypical New York pointers like sirens, shots ringing out, and people screaming out loud. As for the real meaning of this song, I'm going to give you one more chance before I explain to you what it is really about. Back to you...

Darryl: Brilliant analysis, as usual, Jerry. What else can I say but, "DUH!" The action obviously takes place in nearly modern day New York. The homeless WWII vet sat on the streets of New York playing his guitar for whatever pennies the passersby would give him. As Dylan would pass him on the street he felt like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. In fact, his worries were nothing compared to the worries this homeless vet had carried with him, during the war and for the decades after. The vet had risked his life for his country, referenced in the song with the image of the black line used to outline a country on a map. Most of us know the battles this man had fought in only as arrows on the maps of Europe and the Pacific. But both our generation and the Greatest Generation that fought WWII have been born free Americans. It's time we learn to value our freedom and our heritage.

Jerry: Wow, that has to be one of the most touching things I've ever heard, I'm impressed! Too bad it's a bit off the mark. The only possible hit you had with the whole WWII tie in is the 50 years. I do agree that Dylan knew this old homeless man that played his guitar in the street for pennies. He also did draw a depressing similarity between himself and that unfortunate man. However, the black line reference was not to lines on any map. Instead the reference is to the black lines on sheet music. Dylan is realizing that his entire world is music, and here is a homeless guy that can play songs that Dylan himself knew (as stated by "Singin' song I knew complete!"). Was this a possible look into his (Dylan's) future? Regardless, he can't break free of his possible fate because the music is drawing him in. The story ends with the old man no longer being on the street, yet his belongings still being there. Dylan crosses his fingers and hopes that the old man has just moved on instead of death taking him. A man that never fulfilled his dreams and died alone. What a heartbreaking story... On 6th Avenue even!

Darryl: Very interesting interpretation. You still haven't dealt with the 50 year reference, the sirens and shots (obvious war memories), or the man's dreams (flashbacks?). If nothing else, you should be able to see the symbolic use of the guitar as his gun, laid against the wall as the old vet tries once again to leave behind his war memories. I'm convinced that even you can't help but see the evident parallels. The only explanation I can come up with is that you're a Commie Bastard who will come up with any wild interpretation to avoid dealing with the subject of the Democratic freedom our ancestors have fought so hard to give us. Rot in hell, son of Stalin!

A Patriotic and, no matter what Darryl says, Anti-Communist Jerry - Summary: Take whatever interpretation you want!

The Wallflowers - 6th Avenue Heartache

Sirens ring, the shots ring out
A stranger cries screams out loud
I had my world strapped against my back
I held my hands, never knew how to act

And the same black line that was drawn on you
Was drawn on me
And now it's drawn me in
6th Avenue heartache

Below me was a homeless man
Singin' songs I knew complete
On the steps alone, his guitar in hand
It's fifty years, stood where he stands

And the same black line that was drawn on you
Was drawn on me
And now it's drawn me in
6th Avenue heartache

Now walkin' home on those streets
The river winds move my feet
Subway steam, like silhouettes in dreams
They stood by me, just like moonbeams

And the same black line that was drawn on you
Was drawn on me
And now it's drawn me in
6th Avenue heartache

Look out the window, down upon that street
And gone like a midnight where was that man
But I see his six strings laid against that wall
And all his things, they all look so small
I got my fingers crossed on a shooting star
Just like me just moved on

And the same black line that was drawn on you
Was drawn on me
And now it's drawn me in
6th Avenue heartache