Story Behind The Song
This song was inspired by my ministry visits to North Philly and the ministry of New Life Church at the corner of 3rd & Segley. I noticed when I would visit that all of the various streets and corners in the area were notorious for on thing or another. That gave me the idea for this song. The street names ar real.
Song Description
Soulful Ballad about the streets of North Philly.
| Song Length |
4:58 |
Genre |
Blues - Country, Country - Religious |
| Tempo |
Very Slow (Under 70) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Moving |
Subject |
Hope |
| Era |
1990 - 1999 |
| |
Lyrics
VERSE 1
On Percy the "cokesters" bellow,
The chorus echoes, "Yellow, Yellow,"
On Hutchinson another young boy falls.
Stella street displays her wares
Where working girls make crack-house fare,
And orphans departed parents call.
And at 5th and Glenwood the dealers say,
"If you dont get these kids, we'll have them someday,"
Innocence exchanged for blow, the future lost so long ago.
CHORUS
But at 3rd & Segley they've got Jesus,
With a thousand hearts redeemed from pieces.
Where truth still sets a sinner free,
And love with hands will meet his need.
At 3rd & Segley they've got Him.
VERSE 2
A steeple rises on ugly street,
Where young men die and old girls sleep,
And mama's mourn the passing of their babies.
Church stands empty, the people gone,
In the suburbs a church can have a lawn,
And steal away the grace of God for the city.
And while survivors deal with the human condition,
Religion yawns in steeped tradition.
Compassion, love, His call forsaken,
God forgive us, Your heart is breakin'.
Repeat Chorus