I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
New York, I love you
But you're bringing me down
New York, I love you
But you're bringing me down
Like a rat in a cage
Pulling minimum wage
New York, I love you
But you're bringing me down
New York, you're safer
And you're wasting my time
Our records all show
You are filthy but fine
But they shuttered your stores
When you opened the doors
To the cops who were bored
Once they'd run out of crime
New York, you're perfect
Don't please don't change a thing
Your mild billionaire mayor's
Now convinced he's a king
So the boring collect
I mean all disrespect
In the neighborhood bars
I'd once dreamt I would drink
New York, I love you
But you're freaking me out
There's a ton of the twist
But we're fresh out of shout
Like a death in the hall
That you hear through your wall
New York, I love you
But you're freaking me out
New York, I love you
But you're bringing me down
New York, I love you
But you're bringing me down
Like a death of the heart
Jesus, where do I start?
But you're still the one pool
Where I'd happily drown
And oh, take me off your mailing list
For kids who think it still exists
Yes, for those who think it still exists
Maybe I'm wrong
And maybe you're right
Maybe I'm wrong
And maybe you're right
Maybe you're right
Maybe I'm wrong
And just maybe you're right
And oh
Maybe mother told you true
And they're always be somebody there for you
And you'll never be alone
But maybe she's wrong
And maybe I'm right
And just maybe she's wrong
Maybe she's wrong
And maybe I'm right
And if so, is there?
But you're bringing me down
New York, I love you
But you're bringing me down
Like a rat in a cage
Pulling minimum wage
New York, I love you
But you're bringing me down
New York, you're safer
And you're wasting my time
Our records all show
You are filthy but fine
But they shuttered your stores
When you opened the doors
To the cops who were bored
Once they'd run out of crime
New York, you're perfect
Don't please don't change a thing
Your mild billionaire mayor's
Now convinced he's a king
So the boring collect
I mean all disrespect
In the neighborhood bars
I'd once dreamt I would drink
New York, I love you
But you're freaking me out
There's a ton of the twist
But we're fresh out of shout
Like a death in the hall
That you hear through your wall
New York, I love you
But you're freaking me out
New York, I love you
But you're bringing me down
New York, I love you
But you're bringing me down
Like a death of the heart
Jesus, where do I start?
But you're still the one pool
Where I'd happily drown
And oh, take me off your mailing list
For kids who think it still exists
Yes, for those who think it still exists
Maybe I'm wrong
And maybe you're right
Maybe I'm wrong
And maybe you're right
Maybe you're right
Maybe I'm wrong
And just maybe you're right
And oh
Maybe mother told you true
And they're always be somebody there for you
And you'll never be alone
But maybe she's wrong
And maybe I'm right
And just maybe she's wrong
Maybe she's wrong
And maybe I'm right
And if so, is there?
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Great version of a great song,
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great song. really different from everything else hes done....
one thing, I think the last lyrics are "maybe mother told you true / and there'll always be somebody there for you / and you'll never be alone / .... / maybe she's wrong, and maybe I'm right / and if so, heres this song
I could be wrong though.
I agree with rossismad. "New York, I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down" is the song's name.
Simply, Murphy is disappointed with New York. "Like a rat in a cage\Pulling minimum wage" The city sucks, but there's nothing else to turn to. He can't get out because it's all he knows. "Our records all show\You are filthy but fine" This is either a reference to the dirtiness of the city, or the oppression of the police.... "But they shuttered your stores\When you opened the doors\To the cops who were bored\Once they'd run out of crime" The greatness (stores, as in like treasure) was ruined by oppressive police. Maybe he liked the adventure of a not-so-safe city, as opposed to a very tight law presence. "Your mild billionaire mayor's\Now convinced he's a king\So the boring collect\I mean all disrespect" Obviously a reference to Guiliani. He's a dunce, but he's getting rich and powerful, so screw him. "There's a ton of the twist\But we're fresh out of shout" Another reference to his love-hate with the city. New York has some great things, but lacks other important ones too. "Like a death in the hall\That you hear through your wall" The bad things about New York aren't plainly visible, but he knows they're there. "But you're still the one pool\Where I'd happily drown" Again, it's the best he's got and all he knows. "And oh.. Take me off your mailing list\For kids that think it still exists\Yes, for those who think it still exists" I think he wants to quit hearing about how good New York is. He sees the rotten parts of the city and also realizes that practically everybody else doesn't. They eat up the "propaganda" with a spoon. "Maybe I'm wrong\And maybe you're right" He's still undecided about the city. "Maybe mother told you true\And they're always be something there for you\And you'll never be alone" Still hearing about why the city is good (i.e. more indecisiveness) "Maybe she's wrong\And maybe I'm right\And if so, is there?" He flirts with believing that new york truly does suck, and wants proof of why new york is good because he just can't see it.
Probably the best song I've ever heard about being disappointed in a city.
How is nobody else aware that New York is alcohol?
brilliant Lou Reed-esque song that echoes a lot of this indie-dance scene in NYC - another good example about how New York was better dirty and fucked up is Radio 4's Dance To The Underground. !!! also feel the same about the city.
i think this is my fave off the album
I believe the full title is "New York, I love You But You're Bringing Me Down."
Awesome song.
An indictment of Rudy Guiliani and Michael Bloomberg. Simply Beautiful.
this song is one of the best reasons not to vote for Rudy Giuliani.
[along with him being a fucking fascist gasbag and all]