This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Hey hey, I know it wasn't New York
Where I lost my mind
Hey hey, I know I must have left it
It was back home all the time,
And where were you while we lay
So drunk that we died
Hey hey, I know, but who could blame us,
Under pressure
And I know,
I should have stayed in bed,
And I know,
I should have stayed in bed,
And I know,
I should have stayed in bed
Hey hey, I know its just a toothache,
I won't even cry
Hey hey, the candy store prescriptions
All lined up in the aisles
And where were you while we lay
Shipwrecked in denial
Hey hey, its just a pill to help you
Sleep right through the night
I should have stayed in bed
And I know
I should have stayed in bed
I know I should have stayed in bed
Because tomorrow's gonna be another party
You stay too long until the lights get lonely
Oh tomorrow's gonna be another party
Wait too long til we all stay out of the
Sun, sun, sun, sun
And I know,
I should have stayed in bed,
And I know,
I should have stayed in bed
I know, I know, it wasn't New York, New York
I know, I know, it wasn't New York, New York
New York, New York
New York, New York
Where I lost my mind
Hey hey, I know I must have left it
It was back home all the time,
And where were you while we lay
So drunk that we died
Hey hey, I know, but who could blame us,
Under pressure
And I know,
I should have stayed in bed,
And I know,
I should have stayed in bed,
And I know,
I should have stayed in bed
Hey hey, I know its just a toothache,
I won't even cry
Hey hey, the candy store prescriptions
All lined up in the aisles
And where were you while we lay
Shipwrecked in denial
Hey hey, its just a pill to help you
Sleep right through the night
I should have stayed in bed
And I know
I should have stayed in bed
I know I should have stayed in bed
Because tomorrow's gonna be another party
You stay too long until the lights get lonely
Oh tomorrow's gonna be another party
Wait too long til we all stay out of the
Sun, sun, sun, sun
And I know,
I should have stayed in bed,
And I know,
I should have stayed in bed
I know, I know, it wasn't New York, New York
I know, I know, it wasn't New York, New York
New York, New York
New York, New York
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i remember seeing this song on the back cover and thinking 'oh great, just another song about new york or america.. bet it'll be crap.' but it's my favourite on the cd. it's brilliant.
pretending something is bigger than it is, pretending something is smaller than it is.
neither of them help anybody. sometimes staying in bed just seems like the best option.
it's a real song. simple. but real.
This could be about someone whos life or day was fine then suddenly finding themself losing their mind over something or for completely no reason. Something possibly of little or much larger significance or past problems, but the alcohol or drugs twist bring out problems and twist everything out of proportion and the person just loses complete control. This person wakes up the following day feeling regret but they find themself still suffering from the consequences of being on drugs.
This could be about someone whos life or day was fine then suddenly finding themself losing their mind over something or for completely no reason. Something possibly of little or much larger significance or past problems, but the alcohol or drugs bring out problems and twist everything out of proportion and the person just loses complete control. This person wakes up the following day feeling regret but they find themself still suffering from the consequences of being on drugs.
It's so simple, and yet the singing can be easily mistaken for another band, because of songs like 'Black Fingernails Red Wine' and 'Sarah' greatly differ in singing techniques.
Hey hey, i know, but who could blame us, under pressure
seems impossible for aussie bands to crack the U.S music market. eskimo joe tryed and didnt do too well "should have stayed in bed". i think when he says i know it wasnt new york he means that new york was not how he expected it to be with the money, glamour, lifestyle all that stuff we think about when we think of new york, somethin like that, cheers
i love this song too and it seems to be really powerful and i'd listen to it but i wouldnt know what it meant.
thinking about it maybe they're simply singing about fate. There were things that were out of their control "who could blame us?" and when something bad did happen he wished he stayed in bed that morning.
I dont think it's New York literally, i just think it's a poetic way of saying it's nobody's fault...it was fate.
I actually thought it was about regret. You've done something, and now you regret it.
'And I know, I should've stayed in bed'. That's part of the regret.
Nobody thought it was about 9/11? "I should have stayed in bed" is about the people who I can only imagine were wishing they didn't come to work that day.