Songfacts®:

• The title song of Gregory Porter's fourth album, "Take Me To The Alley" finds him singing of redirecting the collective energy we often give to royalty to the downtrodden. The track was written in New York during Pope Francis' visit to the Big Apple.
• The lyrics were inspired by the singer's late mother Ruth, who often gave food and shelter to the less fortunate. Though she died of breast cancer when he was a student, Porter still feels her influence. "The energy from 'Take Me To The Alley' comes from my mother," he told The Sun. "We would drive the streets looking for people who were in need of something, whether it would be food, housing or people who were addicted to alcohol or drugs."
  
  "She was looking for people who were in trouble and I helped," Porter continued. "That is the way she rolled. And that's why emotionally Take Me To The Alley is my favorite and just feels good."
  
  "I feel my mother's energy and I feel a social message coming out in that, Porter added. "It's not a sexy or romantic message but it feels good to me when I sing it. Musically it is the simplicity that draws you in."