Chrysler Building - The Skyscraper Blues - NY, NY
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neoc1
N 40° 45.095 W 073° 58.561
18T E 586441 N 4511685
The Chrysler Building is an Art Deco style skyscraper in New York City. It is located at 405 Lexington Avenue at the intersection of E. 42nd Street. in Manhattan.
Waymark Code: WM10WGA
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 07/02/2019
Views: 6
"The Skyscraper Blues" was composed by Gordon Jenkins with lyrics by Tom Adair. It was written for the 1949 Broadway play "Along Fifth Avenue". Subsequently it was recorded and performed by Tony Bennett and included in his 1959 album "Hometown, My Town". It speaks of being lonely in New York City surrounded by skyscrapers. The Chrysler Building gets special mention since it is also given the brief description of being "so tall and so grey".
The Chrysler Building is a 1,046' tall skyscraper designed by architect William Van Alen. Construction began on September 19, 1928 and was completed on May 20, 1930. The building is constructed of masonry, with a steel frame, and metal cladding. For 11 months, until the completion of the nearby Empire State Building, it was the tallest building in the world. It was personally paid for and owned by Walter P. Chrysler and served as the headquarters of the Chrysler Corporation from 1930 until the mid-1950s.
The building is famous for various architectural details. The gargoyles below the crown were modeled after Chrysler automobile products like the hood ornaments of the Plymouth. The crown is it's most striking feature. It is composed of seven progressively smaller radiating terraced arches, set back and mounted one behind each other. Stainless-steel cladding is ribbed and riveted in a radiating sunburst pattern forming triangular vaulted windows. The detail of the building is suggestive of the age of machines of the 1920s.
The building is considered a leading example of Art Deco architecture and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.
Full Lyrics:
The Empire State
The RCA
The Chrysler Building so tall
And so grey
When you’re walking down the street
In New York
And you haven’t got a friend in town
Then a funny thing can happen
A funny thing can happen
When you look at all the buildings
All around
A funny thing can happen
A funny thing can happen
If you let those lonely buildings
Get you down
You get the skyscraper blues
The skyscraper blues
You get the feeling
They’re hemming you in
The Empire State
The RCA
The Chrysler Building so tall
And so grey
They’re looming bold and high
Against the cold, grey sky
And a funny thing can happen
A funny thing can happen
If you let those lonely buildings
Get you down
You get the skyscraper blues
The tall building blues
The wind comes whipping ‘round them
With a moan
It’s murder to lose
Those skyscraper blues
When you walk in New York
Alone
A million faces swarm
All around you
You search them for a friendly smile or two
But they’re only empty faces
That surround you
And you know
They’re as lonesome as you
You’ve got the skyscraper blues
The tall building blues
The wind comes whipping 'round you
With a moan
Yes, it’s murder to lose
Those skyscraper blues
When you walk in New York
Alone
Musician: Tony Bennett
Name of Song: The Skyscraper Blues
Relevant Verse:
The Chrysler Building so tall
And so grey
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