Broadway, New York, July 1916 by George Sterling

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a grim picture of a cabaret scene in New York, July 1916, where "drunken wasters" engage in "midnight orgies" while the world suffers. The speaker directly questions the state of "Liberty," asking if these "vampires" are the "fruits of thee." This sets up a stark contrast between an idealized notion of freedom and the debauched reality observed. The central tension arises from the speaker's disillusionment with what they perceive as the decay of societal values, particularly in the context of war. The question "Are these our masters and the race their prey?" reveals a deep anxiety about who holds power and the vulnerability of the populace. The imagery of "jackals" feasting on the fallen "in thy name" powerfully conveys a sense of exploitation and desecration of sacrifice. The most striking craft element is the extended metaphor of the "vampires" and "jackals." These predatory figures are not just described but are presented as the active agents of corruption, "batten[ing] upon murder and decay." Their cyclical behavior – feasting until "the sun's returning flame" drives them away to sleep – suggests a recurring, almost naturalized, pattern of destruction and opportunistic survival that the speaker finds deeply disturbing. This piece resonates because it uses sharp, visceral language to articulate a profound sense of moral and societal rot. The direct address to "Liberty" and the stark, animalistic imagery of predation create a powerful indictment of complacency and exploitation. The final image of the creatures retreating to sleep by noon, "frightened by the sun's returning flame," leaves the reader with a chilling sense of unresolved corruption, waiting for the next opportunity to emerge.