Jerrya homeless man

Jerry outside his regular haunt gives me a wave

Jerry is a homeless man who I encountered while I was photographing a very run-

down structure on the East end of Gallaitn Road. I didn’t know what they actually

did there, I just knew it was a strange run down buiding and I wanted a picture of it.

(I later found out it’s a machine shop.) Jerry was just hanging out outside the little

structure with a friend of his and he started a conversation with me because I was

taking a bunch of pictures. People get curious about cameras and things. He ended up

showing me his living quarters, which are found in a hollow concrete opening of the

bridge that runs beside the building. He had some candles and a few blankets and a

pillow and told me he was living pretty well. He also had a lot to say about east Nash-

ville. His friend wanted to remain anonymous, so I didn’t get any footage of his face.

Jerry’s voice is in blue, his friend’s in grey, and mine in black as usual.

Looking up at Jerry’s cave and the bridge from the road.

This is where Jerry lays his head at night.

Good old Jerry.

So you like living down here?

Well, my daughter was born, she was born right down here on Kirkwood accross from Arby's. I

guess I'm kinda– thats the reason I keep hanging around here. She lives in North Carolina now. I

aint seen her in about 5 years.

(Pause)

Christmas, we had a christmas tree, an artificial tree that I found. We put it up.

You put lights on it and every thing?

No, we didn't. We didn't have no electricity. We're homeless. But I gave my friend, Teddy, hes got

2 dogs, he lives around back here.

You didn't put lights on it?

I mean, I had lights but we didn't have no electricity.

Where'd you put it at?

Round back. But, I gave him a gift and he gave me a gift. (laughs)

So what kinds of crazy stuff have you seen living around here?

I've seen people with their heads blown off. I've seen people stabbed.

For real?

He's been where I've been, he knows what I'm talkin about. (pointing to Joe.)

Yeah I've been shot myself.

Yeah I have too. 357 in my chest. And somebody got shot in the ass up there at Litton.

So, you think this is a dangerous area?

Its safer right here than it is further down that way. You go, what, 3 lights? 3 lights down,

thats a red zone.

Red zone? Whats that mean?

Dangerous. Thats where I seen all this shit goin on. Crack city.

With all the people that hang out down there?

Yeah, crack city. And I aint gonna lie, I smoke crack too. I'm dumb too.

But, your'e not going to kill nobody over it.

No, no. But I do smoke it. Anything to ease the pain huh? You got some lortabs or whatever?

Valiums? I'll take anything. I aint gonna fuckin lie to ya.

I understand you. I lived down on Douglas... No, no. (refering to the camera on him.)

Hes wanted, I believe. Are you wanted?

Me? Wanted? No. I just don't like that. I worry too much. I don't want my grown baby seein

this. And I work here damnit. I do work here. I just stop in here and holler at my brother be-

cause hes my friend. Jerry takes care of me and everything. I've been there and done that and I

know how it is.

I used to live in Oak Ridge.

Did you?

Petros, Tennessee. Brushy Mountain Prison. I was there when James Earl Raye escaped.

When I made parole from Brushy Mountain I went to Oak Ridge. And I met some of the most

beautiful people I’ve ever met in my life. At a biker bar. I was stayin’ at Saint Mary's catholic

church, but there was a bar about 3 blocks down. And thats where I'd stay til about 3 oclock in

the morning. Then I'd go home to the church. And them damn bells would wake me up. So that

wasn't good. That didn't last long.

You know, I'm really surprised. You really shocked me about one thing. I mean, I'm just sittin

here talkin. Because I mean, we're who we are. We're not freaks–

Well he’s gotta be one. If he wasn't he wouldn't be sitting here.

–but this girl is sittin here talkin' to us. She's all by herself. And she gave us a chance, and I

respect that.

Easin’ the pain.

Well see, I've lived in this neighborhood for so long, and people always tell me "aren't you

scared to live there and walk down Gallatin Road?" And I'm like, no! I don’t worry about it. I

really think that people are basically good.

You want to get one without the hat? Its kinda ragged.

There ya are, lookin’ good.

Yeah, I'll be damned. You are, but I ain’t. My hair's kinda ragged.

So yall just hang out down here?

I don't hang out here all the time.

Is there a store here? Are they selling anything here? Or next door?

Its a machine shop. He does well and his child's happy. But he had a wreck on his motorcycle.

He races. He went to Florida and raced last weekend and he had a wreck. He just had his

staples removed and all. I'm here every day. You seen where I live. So I'm here every day. I help

him out– he don't pay me nothing but I still help him out. He helps me out with a couple dollars

to get me a bottle every now and then. And he... he's got a pistol. He's got a pistol he keeps in

his pocket. Its got a 14 inch shotgun shell and a 45...

He’s not gonna come out here and get us is he?

Naw, he aint here. But I'm just lettin you know. Hes got a 14 inch shotgun shell and...

A pistol?

A pistol. He keeps it in his pocket all damn day.