53rd & 3rd
Encyclopedia
"53rd & 3rd" is a song by the American punk rock
band the Ramones
. It was released as the band's second single and the final released from their debut album, Ramones.
, refers to what was then a well-known spot for male prostitution
in New York City
, known as "the Loop." The area was a center of gay nightlife decades before the West Village became prominent, and was home to well-known hustler bars, most notably Cowboys, Rounds, and Red, from the 1970s through the 1990s.
In the bridge, sung by Dee Dee, he is finally chosen but he kills his customer with a razor blade
. The police are now chasing him, but at least he "proved [he's] no sissy".
Shortly after the song was written, the block between 3rd and Lexington avenues was cleared to make way for one of Manhattan
's tallest skyscrapers, the Citigroup Center
. Years later, the Lipstick Building
was built on the east side of 3rd Avenue at 53rd. However, gay hustlers remained in abundance at bars on 53rd between 3rd and 1st avenues.
In his memoir of the 70s Apathy For The Devil, rock journalist Nick Kent
writes that Dee Dee himself worked as a part-time male prostitute in the groups's early days, and that the song is partly autobiographical.
label. It was run by The Pastels
' Stephen Pastel and friends, and released records by the likes of Talulah Gosh
, Shop Assistants, The Vaselines
, The Soup Dragons
, Frisco Bum Buzzards and BMX Bandits
.
on the Ramones tribute album We're a Happy Family, with frontman James Hetfield
singing the verses and chorus and drummer Lars Ulrich
singing the bridge.
Shotgun Messiah
covered the song on their EP I Want More.
On the live album We're Outta Here
, Lars Fredriksen and Tim Armstrong
of Rancid
join the Ramones in performing the song, with both playing guitar and Lars singing the bridge.
The Knockouts covered "53rd and 3rd" on their 2008 EP The Remarkable Sounds of India. Their version was sung by guest vocalist Mick Sheridan, in Hindi.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band the Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
. It was released as the band's second single and the final released from their debut album, Ramones.
Lyrics
The song, written by bassist Dee Dee RamoneDee Dee Ramone
Dee Dee Ramone was an American songwriter and musician, best known as founding member, bassist and main songwriter of the punk rock band the Ramones....
, refers to what was then a well-known spot for male prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, known as "the Loop." The area was a center of gay nightlife decades before the West Village became prominent, and was home to well-known hustler bars, most notably Cowboys, Rounds, and Red, from the 1970s through the 1990s.
In the bridge, sung by Dee Dee, he is finally chosen but he kills his customer with a razor blade
Razor
A razor is a bladed tool primarily used in the removal of unwanted body hair through the act of shaving. Kinds of razors include straight razors, disposable razors and electric razors....
. The police are now chasing him, but at least he "proved [he's] no sissy".
Shortly after the song was written, the block between 3rd and Lexington avenues was cleared to make way for one of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
's tallest skyscrapers, the Citigroup Center
Citigroup Center
The Citigroup Center is one of the ten tallest skyscrapers in New York City, United States, located at 53rd Street between Lexington Avenue and Third Avenue in midtown Manhattan...
. Years later, the Lipstick Building
Lipstick Building
The Lipstick Building is a 453 foot tall skyscraper located at 885 Third Avenue, between East 53rd Street and 54th Street, across from the Citigroup Center in Manhattan, New York City, United States. It was completed in 1986 and has 34 floors. The building was designed by John Burgee Architects...
was built on the east side of 3rd Avenue at 53rd. However, gay hustlers remained in abundance at bars on 53rd between 3rd and 1st avenues.
In his memoir of the 70s Apathy For The Devil, rock journalist Nick Kent
Nick Kent
Nick Kent is a British rock critic and musician.-Career:Along with writers including Paul Morley, Charles Shaar Murray and Danny Baker, Nick Kent is seen as one of the most important and influential UK music journalists of the 1970s. He wrote for the British music publication New Musical Express,...
writes that Dee Dee himself worked as a part-time male prostitute in the groups's early days, and that the song is partly autobiographical.
Record label
The song also lent its name to an influential British indie popIndie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
label. It was run by The Pastels
The Pastels
The Pastels are a group from Glasgow, Scotland, UK.Their early records for labels like Whaam!, Creation, Rough Trade, and Glass Records, had a raw and immediate sound, melodic and amateur, which seemed at odds with the time...
' Stephen Pastel and friends, and released records by the likes of Talulah Gosh
Talulah Gosh
Talulah Gosh were a guitar-pop group from Oxford, England and one of the leading bands of the twee pop movement, taking their name from the headline of an NME interview with Clare Grogan. They supposedly formed when Amelia Fletcher and Elizabeth Price, both wearing Pastels badges, met at a club in...
, Shop Assistants, The Vaselines
The Vaselines
The Vaselines are an alternative rock band from Glasgow, Scotland. Formed in 1986, the band was originally a duo between its songwriters Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee, but later added James Seenan and Eugene's brother Charlie Kelly on bass and drums respectively from the band Secession. McKee had...
, The Soup Dragons
The Soup Dragons
The Soup Dragons were a Scottish alternative rock band of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Named after a character in the 1970s children's television show Clangers, the group is best known for its cover of the Rolling Stones' song "I'm Free."-History:...
, Frisco Bum Buzzards and BMX Bandits
BMX Bandits (band)
BMX Bandits are a Scottish 1960s-influenced guitar pop band who have been making music from 1986 to the present day. They have shared members with other Bellshill bands Teenage Fanclub and The Soup Dragons....
.
Cover versions
The song was covered by MetallicaMetallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
on the Ramones tribute album We're a Happy Family, with frontman James Hetfield
James Hetfield
James Alan Hetfield is the rhythm guitarist, co-founder, main songwriter, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering a classified advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler,...
singing the verses and chorus and drummer Lars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich is a Danish drummer, and one of the founding members of the American thrash metal band Metallica. He was born in Gentofte, Denmark to an upper-middle class family. A tennis player in his youth, Ulrich moved to Los Angeles, California at age sixteen to pursue his training; though rather...
singing the bridge.
Shotgun Messiah
Shotgun Messiah
Shotgun Messiah were a glam metal band originally from Sweden; they crossed over to industrial rock music during the early 1990s.-First Era, 1985-1991:...
covered the song on their EP I Want More.
On the live album We're Outta Here
We're Outta Here
We're Outta Here! is a live album by The Ramones. It was released on November 18, 1997 through Eagle Rock Records. It was recorded for Billboard Live at The Palace in Los Angeles, California on August 6, 1996 when the Ramones performed their 2,263rd and final concert...
, Lars Fredriksen and Tim Armstrong
Tim Armstrong
Timothy Lockwood Armstrong is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work with punk rock bands Rancid, Operation Ivy, Downfall, and the Transplants. He is also the owner and operator of Hellcat Records.-Personal life:Armstrong was born November 25, 1965 and was...
of Rancid
Rancid (band)
Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both of whom previously played in the ska punk band Operation Ivy, Rancid is credited—along with Green Day and The Offspring—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the...
join the Ramones in performing the song, with both playing guitar and Lars singing the bridge.
The Knockouts covered "53rd and 3rd" on their 2008 EP The Remarkable Sounds of India. Their version was sung by guest vocalist Mick Sheridan, in Hindi.