Drift Back in Time and Find Your Feet
As most of you reading this probably know, Bob Seger’s “Down on Main Street” was written about Main Street in Ann Arbor. And, as you’ve almost certainly observed, its lyrics, evoking seedy bars and strip clubs, are a bit incongruous with the current Main Street experience.
It’s time someone updated this classic. So - the first-ever Ann Arbor is Overrated contest. Post your entries for new lyrics to “Down on Main Street” that more accurately reflect the Main Street of today, and we’ll vote on a winner next week.
UPDATE: We’re hearing reports that “Down on Main Street” was actually about Fourth Avenue. We could write some great lyrics on that theme after spending a year in a certain apartment that was seedy enough to make Seger’s strip joint look like Palio. However, the original theme of the contest stands.
I heard it was actually written about 4th St…
posted by Brandon on January 8th, 2004 at 5:46 pm“Down on 4th St.”? Fourth Street or Fourth Avenue?
posted by ann arbor is overrated on January 8th, 2004 at 6:07 pmFourth Ave.
posted by js on January 8th, 2004 at 6:52 pmjs
I think I mentioned before that 4th Avenue was the “black Main Street” of Ann Arbor, back in the day, so the lyrics weren’t completely off.
Still, I like the contest idea using the literal Main Street.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on January 8th, 2004 at 11:08 pmI went to high school with Seger, and I think he was talking about Ann Street. It used to be two blocks of primarily African American ghetto, with pool halls, bars, and a real funky night life scene (junk, gambling). There’s nothing left in A2 like it at all. I don’t even know if there’s anything in Ypsi like what it was. But there was nothing on Main Street like what he wrote about.
posted by Michael McClatchey on January 9th, 2004 at 8:39 amAnn Street, 4th Avenue, we’re talking about the exact same venue.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on January 9th, 2004 at 10:31 amWell, sort of, but the only thing I can remember on 4th was the Wonder Bar, and that was sort of white and geriatric, with the line forming at 7 am. I remember Ann Street as pretty much the only place that black people (men, mostly) were seen drinking. And gambling and shooting pool.
posted by Michael McClatchey on January 9th, 2004 at 10:34 amI’d heard it was about Ann Street as well, but as a student at UM in the late nineties, I had no idea why the hell anyone would portray Ann Street that way. Times change, I suppose.
posted by Anonymous on January 10th, 2004 at 5:49 pmWasn’t Joe’s Star Lounge on the corner of 4th and Ann?
posted by js on January 12th, 2004 at 10:52 amjs
Joes Star Lounge was where 101 North Main is today. In the middle of the 100 block of N Main The adjacent parking lot was “Harvey’s Hotel” or the old County Jail. The wake up call at the old jail was “I Fought The Law (and the Law Won)” by the Bobby Fuller Four. Don’t ask me how I know.
posted by mucho gusto on January 12th, 2004 at 10:44 pm