Lyr Add: Lincoln Park Pirates (Steve Goodman)

Subject: Lyr Add: Lincoln Park Pirates
From: Haruo
Date: 26 Apr 05 - 12:38 PM

I was looking for this Steve Goodman song's lyrics (and tune if anybody's got it handy). Although it's mentioned in a couple of threads here I don't see the lyrics anywhere (even via Google).

(Apparently from album liner notes:)

The Lincoln Towing Company is a company that provided towing service to private businesses primarily on the near north, northwest side of Chicago, an area which included Rush Street and Wrigley Field. Rush Street was and still is considered a center for social night life. It is often invaded by the suburbs and surrounding communities on the week ends and parking become a major problem. Lincoln Towing was brutal in its methods of towing vehicles and was suspected of towing any vehicle, whether it was legally parked or not. It also charged one of the highest inpounding fees known at the time of this song. This song brought the towing situation to light in the city. Business quickly realized they were losing customers due to the operation of Lincoln towing as well as other companies, and legislation was introduced in the City Council to bring the towing companies under stricter regulations. (Yes Lincoln towing operated for quite some time without a license.) So in many ways the people of Chicago owe the improved towing regulations to Steve Goodman.

Note
The Charm School at Joliet refers to the Joliet Maximum Security Prison. Made famous by Joliet Jake (John Belushi) of the Blues Brothers. While the song makes a joking comment about the status of the tow truck drivers, it is a fact that a high percentage of the drivers were ex-cons. They were hired simply because the towing companies could pay them less.

(From Original Steve Goodman)

Then I found it, so I'm changing this from Lyr Req to Lyr Add...

Lincoln Park Pirates
Steve Goodman
© 1972, 1973, Buddah Music and Turnpike Tom Music.

(spoken:) In Chicago where I live, there's a... there's a outfit that'll tow just almost anything off the streets but they deal mostly in automobile. and we call 'em the Lincoln Park Pirates*.

The street lamps are on in Chicago tonite
and lovers are gazin at stars,
the stores are all closin'
and Daley is dozin'
and the fatman is counting the car;
There's more cars than places to put 'em he said
but I got room for them all,
so round 'em up boys
I want some more toys,
hit the lot by the grocery store

(Chorus)

--to me--
WAY HEY TOW'EM AWAY
The Lincoln Park pirates are we;
from Wilmette to Gary
There's none that's so hairy
and we always collect our fee
WAY-HEY tow 'em away
we plunder the streets of your town,
be it Edsel or Chevy,
there's no car too heavy
And no one can make us shut down.

We break into cars when we gotta
with pick axe and hammer and saw,
they said this garage had no license
but little care I for the law
all my drivers are friendly and courteous;
their good manners you always will get
for they all are recent graduates
from the charm school in Joliet

(Chorus)

And when all of the cars are collected,
and all of their fenders are ruined
then I'll tow every boat in belmont
harbor to the Lincoln Park Lagoon
and when I've collected the ransom
and sunk all the ones that won't yield
then i'll tow all the planes
that are blocking the runways
at Midway, O'Hare and Meigs Field

--to me--
WAY HEY TOW 'EM AWAY
The Lincoln Park pirates are we;
from Wilmette to Gary
there's none that's so hairy
and we always collect our fee
Way hey, tow 'em away, --
Citizens gather around
I think its enough
and let's call his bluff
Yeah lets throw the bum out of town.

Found on
o Somebody Else's Troubles
o The Original Steve Goodman
o The Steve Goodman Anthology

---

Now, does anybody have a song about Seattle's Lincoln Towing? The one with the pink "Toe Trucks" and the Jesus fish dotting their I's? Considerably more benign than the Windy City variant.

Haruo

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lincoln Park Pirates
From: Haruo
Date: 26 Apr 05 - 12:41 PM

Meant to include a picture of Seattle's Lincoln Towing Toe Truck. One of them is now in a museum here.

Haruo

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lincoln Park Pirates
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Apr 05 - 05:34 PM

Amazing image, Haruo.

We have our own folk-processed version of this song, adapted to Portland, Maine, if you're interested.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lincoln Park Pirates
From: Haruo
Date: 26 Apr 05 - 05:44 PM

Might as well post it, Charley. Don't know if I'm in need of it, but someone may be.

Haruo