Download ‘Don’t Look Down, Pollyanna’ by Steve Forbert

Offering insightful poetic lyrics at a time when some families are facing a winter season with escalating needs, the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity feature folk-rock singer/songwriter Steve Forbert’s ‘Don’t Look Down, Pollyanna’.

Comments from Steve Forbert

“Don’t Look Down, Pollyanna” is clearly a song about America today—all of the foreclosures  taking place and the people out of (what were) their homes. One reads the statistics—the numbers coming out of  government monitoring agencies and the financial institutions, but where are all of the people going? Everyone knows we’re not still talking about secondary residences and failed attempts at flipping condos in Miami. Are we talking about the waiting list for a tent village near Tampa? As far as the song’s title, anyone familiar with the (underrated) Disney film will recall Hayley Mills (literally out on a limb) sneaking out of her upstairs window in order to attend the town bazaar. Of course the peak scene is the one where the town preacher ’sees the light’ thanks to that wonderfully wise little girl and a quote from Abraham Lincoln (but I still prefer Mrs. Snow beside the fishing booth making sure Pollyanna wins a doll!)

About Steve Forbert

Earning wide acclaim as the “new (Bob) Dylan in the seventies, Steve Forbert was born in Meridian, MS. After learning to play the guitar/harmonica at an early age he eventually made steps to become a professional musician in New York City. Since his debut, Steve has released twelve albums, all of which exemplify his lasting originality in a blend of folk and rock music.  

In 2010 he is a songwriter who not only appears comfortable with his place in life, but who also still rejects a nine-to-five existence in favor of following his own road-less-traveled.“Music should be truthful and real,” Forbert once said, “but it should also be uplifting and healing.” That’s a philosophy he’ll be honoring throughout this new year as he continues to share a rare creative talent that is ever new not only with a loyal fan base but with us here at Franciscanized World. Help us spread his uniquely-personalized world view with others.

Websites

Official Website: http://www.steveforbert.com/
My Space: http://www.myspace.com/steveforbert

Lyrics: Don’t Look Down, Pollyanna

The sidewalk spiel, it’s no big deal,

The traffic lights are blinking just the same;

The church bell tolls for hearts and souls,

And ev’ry moth is flapping toward a flame.

Don’t look down, Pollyanna,

Don’t look down at all;

Shreveport, Louisiana

Is just as high as Niag’ra Falls.

You feel as if you’re over a barrel,

You think you might be close to the edge,

You’re hopin’ there’ll be somebody there who’ll

Get you back in tact off the ledge.

Your west side home they foreclosed on

Is someone else’s dream come true today;

At near half price it must feel nice

To wake up with a mortgage one can pay. 

Don’t look down, Pollyanna,

Don’t look down at all,

Shreveport, Louisiana

Is just as high as Niag’ra Falls.

You feel as if you’re over a barrel,

You think you might go straight down the drain, 

You’re hopin’ there’ll be somebody there who’ll

Zap you back t’ Hackberry Lane.

The World And How To Work It

Is a book you should’ve read,

There should’ve been a copy on the night stand by your bed;

Life And How To Live It

Is another good choice as well–

The new large print edition and a fairly clean hotel…

A sweet soul blast from days gone past

Is bouncing off the Greyhound station wall;

A safe past tense that makes good sense

And now is somewhat painful to recall.

Don’t look down, Pollyanna,

Don’t look down at all; Shreveport, Louisiana

 Is just as high as Nia’gra Falls.

You feel as if you’re over a barrel,

You think you might be close to the end,

You’re hopin’ there’ll be somebody there who’ll 

Get you back on track once again.

(c) S. Forbert 2009

credits from Don’t Look Down, Pollyanna,

released 28 October 2009

Written by Steve Forbert 

Any comments on the song?

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.