Doo Wop New York - Jimmy's Candy Store (Restored)
The "Jimmy" of this song was my Dad, who opened up a candy store in Queens, NY in 1956. Back then, there was a candy store on every other block and it was like a mini-town hall! Continue reading below...
Jimmy and the Barbarellos began singing and playing in 1954, and is going strong to this day.
Story behind the song
This song was a tribute to my dad...a hard working, no nonsense guy with a really big heart. When it was written, there was a newspaper called the Daily Mirror and it, and the Daily News, were 5 cents each! An egg cream is a uniquely NY concoction made with chocolate syrup, milk, and seltzer (no egg!). My dad didn't take any crap from anyone, and if they got huffy, he'd pull out a Louisville slugger bat and that would end the huffyness! Not formally educated, Dad was a common man philosopher who'd give you the shirt off his back. After many years, Dad closed the store and retired. Sadly, he's gone, but when I listen to this song, it almost brings him back.
To listen to the original version, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_MPkRARKsA
Lyrics
Well if you're ever in Queens there's a place you gotta see.
Come to 28th Avenue and 42nd street.
It's right across the street from the Villa Lucia.
Kinda small, but it's where everybody meets.
No need to be discreet. Just walk in off the street into Jimmy's Candy Store.
They line up in front around 8 every night.
To buy a Daily News and a Mirror for a dime.
You?ll see the soda fountain as you come inside the door.
And the cigarettes are stacked neatly on the back wall.
Have an egg cream, a Devil Dog or twizler treat in Jimmy's Candy Store.
Penny candy in the back and Archie comics on the wall.
And a pay phone so you always have some place to make a call
There's a coke cooler with a bottle opener on the side.
And they never close before 11:30 at night.
Get an ice cream cone, or hot chocolate when its cold at Jimmy's candy store.
Musical Interlude
If you don't have any money you can put it on your tab.
Jimmy's good, he hardly ever gets mad.
But if you're a crook, or do something really bad
Right behind the counter Jimmy's always got his bat.
Everybody watches out for everybody else, down at Jimmy's candy store.
It's like your house and your school rolled into one.
You can do your homework or just have a little fun.
And if you need advice 'bout a problem bugging you
Just spill it all to Jimmy's cause he'll know what to do
I don't know how we'd do it, or how we'd get through without Jimmy's candy store.
So when you're in Queens it's the place you gotta see.
Come to 28th Avenue and 42nd street.
Right across the street from the Villa Lucia.
Kinda small, but it's where everybody meets.
No need to be discreet. Just walk in off the street into Jimmy's Candy Store.
Oh it's Jimmy's Candy, Jimmy's Candy, Jimmy's Candy Store.
Oh it's Jimmy's Candy, Jimmy's Candy, Jimmy's Candy Store.
No need to be discreet. Just walk in off the street into Jimmy's Candy Store.
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