Boulevard Baby

Songwriter Saturday 16; Boulevard Baby ©1977-2026 While going through old songs I’ve written, I set this aside because quite frankly in it’s original form, it was rather cringey. I mean, I know the Beatles once sang about, “she was just seventeen, you know what I mean”, and Ringo once had a song called Only Sixteen. But a song I penned when I was about 19-20 years old, about flirting with girls around those same ages gave me pause. So I began to rework the song, eliminate some of the cringe, and it eventually took on a whole new perspective more toward a retrospective, nostalgic feel. Those early years hanging out on the boulevard was pure innocence. Young people congregating in mostly cooperative fashion. The crew I hung out with had our spot in the parking lot of the Boulevard Cinema II. Before it was Whataburger, before it was Bennigans, it was simply a parking lot where teens enjoyed the summer evenings without spending a dime. I know for a fact that quite a few people that enjoyed those summer evenings on the Boulevard eventually got engaged and married. So I re-worked the song from that perspective as someone looks back with fond memories. I certainly hope that today it touches people in some way that makes them smile. Blessings to you all © Steve Brennan Saturday night in ‘77, I go out and jump in my car, Headed out in Topeka, gonna cruise The boulevard. Radio, K.Y. 102, got the windows rolled down, Neon lights flicker as we roll through town. Searching for the perfect babe, and I do declare, From 29th street to 37th, they were everywhere. Laughter in the streetlights, summer in the air, Every lap we make, another beautiful babe is there. Baby, boulevard baby, drivin’ in your daddy’s car, Baby, boulevard baby, you don’t have to go too far. Baby, boulevard baby, with your friends all piled inside, Hey, boulevard baby, won’t you come along for the ride? We were drivin’ ‘round in circles nearly every weekend night, Muscle cars and pickup trucks lined up at every light. Engines revvin’, tires squeal, chrome shining bright, Everybody livin’ for that Saturday night. Every clique had their corner, had a place to be, Talkin’ ‘bout forever like it’s destiny. From White Lakes down to Holliday Square, Turn it around and do it all again without a care. Baby, boulevard baby, singin’ like you just don’t care, Baby, boulevard baby, the wind blowin’ through your hair. Baby, boulevard baby, feelin’ young and runnin’ free, Hey, boulevard baby, come take a ride with me. Time moves on but I still recall, Those endless nights, we had it all. No plans, no worries, just drivin’ slow, Chasin’ dreams down roads we know. Now those streets are quieter, but I swear sometimes, I hear echoes of laughter in the neon signs. And I see you there in the passenger seat, Still young forever on that old concrete. Baby, boulevard baby, forever in my heart you stay, Baby, boulevard baby, ridin’ through yesterday. Baby, boulevard baby, in that summer memory, Hey, boulevard baby… you’re still ridin’ with me.