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Robbie Robertson — Night Parade
Album: Storyville
Avg rating:
5.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 288









Released: 1991
Length: 4:59
Plays (last 30 days): 0
You got lost in the crowd
The waves of people in Chinatown
Can't get behind this mystery
Do you believe everything you see

Just a shadow in the streetlight
Just a shadow on the wall
A silhouette, face in the darkness
I've been waiting for your call

We'll go marching in the night parade
We'll be marching in the night parade

I combed the streets like cloak and dagger
I put the word out on the waterfront
We were living hard, living fast
Outrunning ghosts from the past

Just a shadow in the moonlight
Just a shadow on the wall
A silhouette, the kiss of death
Did somebody take the fall

We'll go marching in the night parade
We'll be marching in the night parade

Mary, Mary, Mary I'm knocking on your door
Mary, Mary sanctuary can't see you no more
From out of the past a stranger came
And carried you away
I stood on the corner, the scene of the crime
And I could hear her say

We'll be marching in the night parade
We'll be marching (marching) in the night parade

We'll go marching (marching) in the night parade
We'll go marching (marching) in the night parade
In the night parade

All y'all living in a street opera
Are we just living in a street opera

We'll be marching in the night parade
And we'll be marching (marching out here) in the night parade
(In the night parade)

Walking the night beat
The rhythm of the street
Walkin to the heartbeat of the city

Walking the night beat
The rhythm of the street
Moving to the heartbeat of the city (Moving to the heartbeat of the city)

We'll be marching in the night parade
Comments (45)add comment
Love this record. Bought it when it came out. I was in high school.
 scraig wrote:
a wanna-be rick astley is NOT a good thing.
  Robbie Robertson was lighting up The Band long before Rick Astley!!!
{#Beat}I think that is what they call an anachronism!!

a wanna-be rick astley is NOT a good thing.
 wiredsol wrote:
His "Somewhere down the crazy river" from his eponymous album is very special to me a 9 - 10 rating

 

at least 4 songs on that album have been in constant rotation from my mixed-tapes in the 80s and 90s to today's playlists... this song, unfortunately, does not hold up to that high standard.
sanctuary
LuvWilloughby wrote:
Appropriate for the beginning of Mardi Gras.
Appropriate for 12th Night? Somebody alert the Phunny Phorty Phellows!

Appropriate for the beginning of Mardi Gras.
His "Somewhere down the crazy river" from his eponymous album is very special to me a 9 - 10 rating

 MsJudi wrote:
He's done MUCH better than this...
 
Regardless of his massive ego Robbie has never managed to reproduce one quarter of the magic of The Band in his solo work.  At least to my ears.
Probably one of the coolest songs of all time.
To a "boy" at the time of this release, lost somewhere in the great plain states with little or no hope of expanding his horizons this was a much needed escape.
Many here think it's not, and maybe they are right...
But then again, we are talking about music!
{#Devil_pimp}
 MsJudi wrote:
He's done MUCH better than this...
 
I can't remember this one that well, but his first solo CD was a real good one.

 MsJudi wrote:
He's done MUCH better than this...
 
Yeah, like "Showdown at BigSky"... hell, anything off that album is better than this.  Hard to follow up such a fine initial solo release I suppose.


He's done MUCH better than this...
 AlienRelic wrote:

Why? Is it the cliche'd lyrics or the incredibly average music?
 
seriously.  i don't usually make comments like this, but i can't hear this without thinking "this is old-people music".

 colleen wrote:
I love this album from start to finish.  {#Cool}
 
100 % agree {#Wave}

C'mon Robbie - get back down to the levee, sit in Nick's cafe and WRITE SOME BETTER STUFF
I love this album from start to finish.  {#Cool} Robbie Robertson is one of the coolest musicians and this is a great song {#Clap}
Cheesy, schmaltzy crap.
 minimole wrote:
The words "ho" and "hum" come unavoidably to mind.

 
Why? Is it the cliche'd lyrics or the incredibly average music?


...c'mon, robbie, it's been ten years - when do we get another album?..
The words "ho" and "hum" come unavoidably to mind.
seedeater wrote:
I like RR a lot, but I can think of at least 50 songs of his that are better than this.
Agreed - this doesn't seem to fit here.
I like RR a lot, but I can think of at least 50 songs of his that are better than this.
Where'd Robbie go?
GuidoNM wrote:
He's done a lot better. this is disappointing.
Have you heard the rest of the album? I think this is the song they promoted (he did this song on Saturday Night Live), but almost every song on the album is better than this one, IMHO.
Brettito wrote:
Robbie Robertson's vocals are definitely an acquired taste . . .
Agreed. . . he sounds kind of strangled, but I like it.
Brettito wrote:
Robbie Robertson's vocals are definitely an acquired taste, but once past that this is a gorgeous album with incredible flow and continuity. The songs all work best as part of the greater whole, rather than on their own. An enduring favourite of mine...
There's a reason why Robbie never sang while playing with The Band: vox were better provided by Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Levon Helm, and they all knew it.
themotion wrote:
I'm gonna have to go with the cheesy drums.
Drums are played by the great J.R. Robinson. He's a master, and played on thousands of recordings. Certainly not "cheesy". Perhaps you are too used to listening to sequenced drums and don't know how to appreciate a skilled live druummer. (click here)
chucklesalmon wrote:
Just curious---- what in this song seems "80's"?
I'm gonna have to go with the cheesy drums.
GuidoNM wrote:
He's done a lot better. this is disappointing.
ditto
trout_fisher wrote:
Now, we all know it's not right to judge by appearances- so that picture on the cover and the accompanying music has undone a lot of good work. Thank the good lord I was too young for much of the eighties to notice a lot of this stuff- I just hope I didn't subconsciously absorb any of it as my brother claims I must have in our '78 vs 81, who is more eighties' arguements.
Just curious---- what in this song seems "80's"?
Think of a hot, steamy New Orleans Night of yore. Listen to the horns underneath, with their distinctive sound... in the low-mid register... listen to real instruments... a nice hammond organ....a build with nice backing vocals....... J.R. Robinson playing drums. Ahhh, a nice composition of mood.
Robbie Robertson's vocals are definitely an acquired taste, but once past that this is a gorgeous album with incredible flow and continuity. The songs all work best as part of the greater whole, rather than on their own. An enduring favourite of mine...
gpracer wrote:
robbie's greatness. he's also a great producer. for those who are ancient do you remember BEAUTIFUL NOISE? he's done better but i still give it an 8
He's done a lot better. this is disappointing.
Now, we all know it's not right to judge by appearances- so that picture on the cover and the accompanying music has undone a lot of good work. Thank the good lord I was too young for much of the eighties to notice a lot of this stuff- I just hope I didn't subconsciously absorb any of it as my brother claims I must have in our '78 vs 81, who is more eighties' arguements.
robbie's greatness. he's also a great producer. for those who are ancient do you remember BEAUTIFUL NOISE? he's done better but i still give it an 8
my favorite CD these days
Platypus wrote:
make the bad man stop!
A welcome relief after the "woo-hoo-hoos"
make the bad man stop!
gillicious wrote:
Makes me think of Van Morrison.
Ooooh, then you'll love 'The Last Waltz' on DVD.
Makes me think of Van Morrison.
I think Robbie Robertson only ever had one good song in him. And this isn't it.
Ok, I'm better now....this is much better than that Leonard Cohen "song" played earlier. Thanks for playing happy music again.
Yay. Now this is more like it.
Like the song - LOVE the background vocals.