Odes to Poncey-Highland · Track 8 · middle
The Clermont
The Clermont Lounge (Atlanta's oldest and most beloved dive, since 1965, Blondie the legend who crushes a beer can with her chest) beneath the old Hotel Clermont on Ponce; a cheeky, winking, affectionate ode to the dive-bar icon. Playful and tasteful.
Lyrics
[Intro] Neon humming high up on the hotel roof But the real magic hides beneath the avenue Take the back alley where the pavement's worn [Verse 1] Since 1965, a glorious storm Red vinyl tape on a busted booth The jukebox is spinning the absolute truth Grab a cold tallboy, pay in exact change We're all walking into the beautiful strange [Chorus] Oh, welcome to the Clermont, underneath the street Where Ponce de Leon finds its steady heartbeat Pull up a mismatched, wobbly chair There is nothing in the city like the basement air Yeah, the Clermont is the crown jewel of the night [Verse 2] Watch the crowd part when she takes the floor Blondie's got the poetry that we adore She steps to the center with a silver can And crushes it flat to her chest, on command A glorious riot of glitter and grace The most honest room in the whole human race [Chorus] Oh, welcome to the Clermont, underneath the street Where Ponce de Leon finds its steady heartbeat Pull up a mismatched, wobbly chair There is nothing in the city like the basement air Yeah, the Clermont is the crown jewel of the night [Bridge] Some say the skyline is getting too clean Glass and steel trying to polish the scene But down in the dark with the disco ball spinning The misfits and mayors are sitting there grinning And nobody asks what you do for a living down here anyway [Chorus] Welcome to the Clermont, underneath the street Where Ponce de Leon finds its steady heartbeat Pull up a mismatched, wobbly chair There is nothing in the city like the basement air Yeah, the Clermont is the crown jewel of the night [Outro] Leave the fancy lobby far behind The oldest dive is where you lose your mind Long live 1965 Keep the neon on