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Edmonton Transit Blues

by Paula Eve Kirman

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about

From August to November of 2023, I was a "Local Listener" with an initiative called Auricle, a partnership between InWithForward (a social design organization in Vancouver) and the City of Edmonton's RECOVER urban wellness team.

"Local Listeners" collected stories from Edmontonians about their experiences with transit and how these experiences connected to their well-being.

This song was written by putting together lines from a number of the 175 stories collected.

lyrics

Started a journey from Clareview
Thought it was Saturday
The LRT was late
Ruined everybody's day

But this morning's sunrise
Was special to me
No one else was looking
I'm in community

Struggles with mental health
It's hard to persevere
Feeling like a sardine
A lot happened this year


I heard something crunch
Didn't know what it was
It's my first time
Riding on this bus

Most people are just there
They're here to commute
They're people like me
I was used to the old routes

At night it's scary
Felt very claustrophobic
X means express
But I didn't know it


That's what made me feel human
Don't know what will happen
I took the wrong bus
Went in the wrong direction

I ride to go to work
I can't drive anymore
I was able to squeeze
To get into the back door

It's such a small gesture
To show kindness
During the whole trip
They kept on smiling


People watching
Eavesdropping
Got to pull the yellow string
To get that bus stopping

When the drivers are kind
They're nice enough to say
Come on so you won't be late for school
It's okay

We saw the train
Then discovered the station
The driver was caring
Showed consideration


Appointment with my doctor
Take my kids to the park
I saw Santa Claus
The night was super, super dark

We talked about
What's important to us
Coming back from Whyte Ave.
Transferred to another bus

I was so embarrassed
Somebody screamed
Don't go on the train high
You know what I mean


Some people wear scrubs
Some drivers yell
Some people are rude
Asleep I fell

I brought a cell phone
To the lost and found
My good deed for the day
Hey don't throw me around

This is not an experience
I would have had
My life here is rich
It's not that bad

credits

released December 8, 2023
Paula Eve Kirman: Vocals, Guitars, Programming

Recorded at The Yellow House in November of 2023

Produced by Paula Eve Kirman

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about

Paula Eve Kirman image

Paula Eve Kirman Edmonton, Alberta

Paula Eve Kirman writes and performs music with a message.

She became interested in both music and social justice at a young age, in part due to being raised on her mother's love of 60s folk music.

For Paula, music is a way of reaching a wider audience with messages of social justice themes, as well as expressions about the complexities of life and love. ... more

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