Its kind of interesting. I can remember my grandmother, who lived in St. Louis in the '20's, telling me that EAST St. Louis used to be the place to go. That St. Louis (MO) was run down and a dangerous place. Looks like the tide had turned.
Quite a change, then.
Years ago I learned a long 19th c. ballad about an East St. Louis badman named Brady, who was shot in a barroom thereabouts.
Brady went to Hell, lookin' mighty curious.Apparently they've gone from personal violence to obstruction of justice in the interim, though . . .
Devil says, "Where ya from?" - "East St. Louis."
"Well take off your coat and step right this way,
'Cause I been expectin' you every day."Brady, why didn't you run?
Brady, you shoulda run.
Brady, why didn't you run
When you seen Black Duncan with his Gatling gun?