52

Alvin and Virginia were institutions
Alvin and Virginia loved the fall
They lived through epidemics and revolutions
Yeah, Alvin and Virginia had seen it all

They lived on 52nd, but not together
They were friends but kind of competitive
Both survived some seasons of dangerous weather
They taught me this lesson on how to live

They'd say "remember, remember, things that now are gone
Remember, remember, and carry 'em on
Good buddy, remember, remember, the history
Remember, remember, remember me"

Alvin and Virginia were not too fancy
Their tastes often alluded to days of yore
They sometimes played it safe, but were mostly chancy
Yeah, they were real New Yorkers down to the core

Their tolerance for tourists were always ample
With an ever-growing capacity
Yeah, Alvin and Virginia taught by example
They didn't really speak, but they spoke to me

They'd say "remember, remember, things that now are gone
Remember, remember, and carry 'em on
My brother, remember, remember, the history
Remember, remember, remember me"

And things in New York are temporary
You can beg it to stop changing, but it won't
Now, people and places, names and faces
Now you see 'em, now you don't

I've always found that changes comes in steps and stages
Alvin left us first, then Virginia went
And now they're just some words on Wikipedia pages
Very few will understand how much they meant

But every time I walk into a theater
I think about the legacy and all who came before
And I may sound lame or hokey but it feels like something sweeter
Makes me want to join the legacy more and more

And make 'em remember, remember, things that now are gone
Remember, remember, and carry 'em on
Forever remember, remember, the history
Remember, remember, remember me

Yeah, remember, remember, the thing you once admired
Remember, remember, and be inspired
Forever remember, remember, the history
Remember, remember, remember me

Yeah, remember, remember, remember me
Yeah, remember, remember, remember me