Holy Trinity High School Class of `73

Song of the Day: 2026

Chapter 2 - New York State of Mind

Day 4

"Rockaway" is a song written and recorded by New York born folk
singer-songwriter Christine Lavin for her 1984 self-produced debut
album Future Fossils. The song was inspired by her closing up her
grandmother's beach bungalow in Rockaway for the season.

Christine Lavin (born in Peekskill, New York on January 2, 1952) is
a NYC–based author, radio host, producer, presenter, singer-songwriter
and promoter of contemporary folk music. She has recorded numerous
solo albums, and has also recorded under the name Four Bitchin' Babes
with three bandmates. She is known for her sense of humor, which is
expressed in both her music and her onstage performances. Many of her
songs alternate between comedy and emotional reflections. Lavin had
been working at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY, until Dave Van Ronk
convinced her to move to NYC in 1976 and make a career as a singer-
songwriter. Lavin has released over 25 studio albums throughout her
career. Her latest album, "Drum School Dropout," was released in 2025.

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Rockaway - Christine Lavin (1984)

I stop to look out the window
The sky above the water's turned a bitter grey
The Summer people have packed their station wagons
The city is calling them away

The air is not as warm as it once was
The ocean's not as tempting as before
The seagulls cry a mournful tune now
As I shutter up the windows and the doors

While the trees outside watch their leaves fall to the ground
but these walls inside me, oh they never tumble down

I think of all the chances that have passed me
All the opportunitys I've let slip by
And all the friends along the way I have lost track of
It's enough to make me lay down and cry

And yet I push on blindly toward the future
Though I haven't got a notion of where I am
As I'm moving in some vague direction
There are times when I couldn't give a damn

All the trees outside watch their leaves fall to the ground
Oh But these walls inside me, oh they never tumble down

I'll take one last walk along this angry ocean
Greet the fishermen in my usual way
Maybe stoop to find a pretty piece of beach glass
To remind me of old Rockaway
The salty spray stings my sunburned face now
As I button up my coat against the cold
There's a sorrow I always find in leavin'
That chills me deep into my soul

All the trees outside watch their leaves fall to the ground
But these walls inside me, oh will they never tumble down
Tumble down, Tumble down,
Tumble down, Tumble down
Tumble down, Tumble down . . .


Songwriters: Christine Lavin

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