On “47th Street,” Lalah Hathaway takes listeners through her old stomping grounds: “Every streetlight hums your name, Every corner burns the same,” she sings. The song nods to her grandfather Hosea and her father: “If only these streets could talk, that’s where my daddy laid his hat down, Sweet Hosea wore the crown.” It’s a bittersweet love letter to what was and what has become of her city, closing with a reminder of the imprint that can never be erased: “You can occupy these streets, But you can’t evict what lives in me.”
Of the song’s inspiration Lalah says: “That’s where my father’s family lived. My grandfather Hosea—we pronounced it Hozee—together with his mom and dad were always welcoming. In my mind, going back to 47th Street regenerated the pulsating urban vibe of my beloved hometown.”
