# "6th Avenue Heartache", what the hell does it mean {Wallflowers Song} **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [March 10, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/6th-avenue-heartache-what-the-hell-does-it-mean-wallflowers-song/347773 "2006-03-10T00:54:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/6th-avenue-heartache-what-the-hell-does-it-mean-wallflowers-song/347773/1 "2006-03-10T00:54:20Z")
I throroughly enjoy the song, but I have no idea what, if anything, it’s trying to say. Help please. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/6th-avenue-heartache-what-the-hell-does-it-mean-wallflowers-song/347773/2 "2006-03-11T20:24:56Z")
I got a vague idea of “I’ve been through what you’re going through now,” but I am also confused. Twenty years from now, we’ll probably learn it was about Tutenkamen or Joe Lieberman. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2021, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/6th-avenue-heartache-what-the-hell-does-it-mean-wallflowers-song/347773/3 "2021-12-24T03:02:15Z")
Not quite 20 years but… According to Wiki: “The lyrics are based on Dylan’s own experiences while living in New York City, in particular the story of a homeless man who would sit outside Dylan’s window and play the same songs every day. One day, the man was gone, but his things were still there, until gradually people started taking them.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2021, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/6th-avenue-heartache-what-the-hell-does-it-mean-wallflowers-song/347773/4 "2021-12-24T03:29:16Z")
My truck only has one headlight. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2021, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/6th-avenue-heartache-what-the-hell-does-it-mean-wallflowers-song/347773/5 "2021-12-24T03:43:33Z")
The days of people loudly condemning any use of Wikipedia are long gone, aren’t they? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2021, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/6th-avenue-heartache-what-the-hell-does-it-mean-wallflowers-song/347773/6 "2021-12-24T06:33:44Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Not quite 20 years but… > > According to Wiki: > > “The lyrics are based on Dylan’s own experiences while living in New York City, in particular the story of a homeless man who would sit outside Dylan’s window and play the same songs every day. One day, the man was gone, but his things were still there, until gradually people started taking them.” Kind of like the OP ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2021, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/6th-avenue-heartache-what-the-hell-does-it-mean-wallflowers-song/347773/7 "2021-12-24T23:59:44Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > My truck only has one headlight. But can you drive it home? ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2021, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/6th-avenue-heartache-what-the-hell-does-it-mean-wallflowers-song/347773/8 "2021-12-25T21:37:26Z")
I am not sharp today. I was conflating the OP with Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out. mmm ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/6th-avenue-heartache-what-the-hell-does-it-mean-wallflowers-song/347773/9 "2021-12-29T15:27:55Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > According to Wiki: > > “The lyrics are based on Dylan’s own experiences while living in New York City, in particular the story of a homeless man who would sit outside Dylan’s window and play the same songs every day. One day, the man was gone, but his things were still there, until gradually people started taking them.” Yeah, if you pay attention to the lyrics of the song the meaning is pretty straightforward. If the OP is mystified by Jakob Dylan’s lyrics, they better not listen to his dad’s.