Story Behind The Song

Inspired by a story I read about a man who moved to NYC in the early 90's at the height of the AIDS epidemic only to see the belongings of gay man cast out on the street unclaimed by friends or family. He noticed Keith Haring painting in one of the trash cans. Haring also died of AIDS and was know to be quite generous with his artwork to his friends

Song Description

A man observes somebody's belonging being placed on the street as his apartment is cleaned out. He has died and no one has come to claim his belongings. Sticking out from the pile of belonging are Keith Haring portraits which no one seems to understand are quite valuable.

Lyrics

STICK FIGURES

I see stick figures
amidst a pile of trash
I bet your mother never showed up
and your landlord needs the cash

hired soldiers march about the house
you?re being swept away
without so much as second thought
looks like another day of gray

You lived in a circle
Once upon a time
Now you?ve been boxed up
and laid to rest outside

broken chairs, broken dreams
and a mattress with it?s sheets
wait for the city tanks
exposed for all to see

soon to be buried
with the other long forgottens
I watch the everydays walk by
no one stops to wonder why

no one even casts an eye

on your paintings of stick figures
you were given by a friend
who tried to stay in touch
but drifted in the end

leaving you with a shadow
that covered up your heart
leaving you to dry up
the wind blew you apart

I?m taking only one thing
it?s the painting of stick figures
I know what it?s worth
I know what it meant to you