My Gen X Playlist: In the City – The Eagles

Last month, we went on our annual hiking camping trip. It seems we are hiking less and fishing more these days. The ratio flip flopped from three days hiking / zero days fishing to the exact opposite. Oh, we also had cell reception at the campsite so we squeezed in a few college football games while eating s’mores around the campfire.

Fishing was good. We were able to catch dinner all three days. Probably the most memorable moment came from a front row seat watching a bald eagle gliding overhead before diving, talons extended, nabbing a fish from the lake about ten yards in front of us. I’ve watched wildlife clips on YouTube before, but there’s nothing like watching it live. Too bad we didn’t have our cameras out. That would have been a keeper.

With our eagle sighting, it makes an easy transition for an Eagle’s song to once again make the playlist. There are so many to choose from. I ultimately landed on In the City for a few reasons. First, the description of the city is exactly what we are escaping from when we go on our camping trips.

It’s survival in the city
When you live from day to day
City streets don’t have much pity
When you’re down, that’s where you’ll stay

Geez, who needs that.

And, two: I learned Joe Walsh sang a cover version for one of my favorite movies as a little kid – The Warriors.

“The Warriors” is a film that tells the story of nine members of a New York street gang known as the “Coney Island Warriors,” who . . . are later framed for another gang leader’s murder and subsequently have to make their way across the city while being hunted by police and gangs alike.

Songfacts

Yeah, it sounds like a total guy flick. I caught it again as an adult and was surprised it still has legs. I don’t remember the song in the movie, but the lyrics fit perfectly. How did this post start with camping and meander to a movie about a street gang running for their lives back to Coney Island?

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Somewhere out on that horizon
Out beyond the neon lights
I know there must be somethin' better
But there's nowhere else in sight
It's survival in the city
When you live from day to day
City streets don't have much pity
When you're down, that's where you'll stay

In the city (oh, oh)
(Ooh)
In the city
(Oh, oh)

I was born here in the city
With my back against the wall
Nothing grows and life ain't very pretty
No one's there to catch you when you fall
Somewhere out on that horizon
Far away from the neon sky
I know there must be somethin' better
And I can't stay another night

In the city (oh, oh)
(Ooh, ooh)
In the city
(Oh, oh)

In the city
In the city
In the city (oh, oh)