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.
Some folks like to get away
Take a holiday from the neighborhood
Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood
But I'm takin' a Greyhound on the Hudson River line
I'm in a New York state of mind
I've seen all the movie stars
In their fancy cars and their limousines
Been high in the Rockies under the evergreens
I know what I'm needin'
And I don't want to waste more time
I'm in a New York state of mind
It was so easy livin' day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times, the Daily News
It comes down to reality
And it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide
I don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside
I don't have any reasons
I left them all behind
I'm in a New York state of mind
Oh, yeah
It was so easy living day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times, the Daily News
Who, oh, oh whoa, who
It comes down to reality
And it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide
I don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside
I don't have any reasons
I left them all behind
I'm in a New York state of mind
I'm just taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River line
'Cause I'm in a, I'm in a New York state of mind, yea
Take a holiday from the neighborhood
Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood
But I'm takin' a Greyhound on the Hudson River line
I'm in a New York state of mind
I've seen all the movie stars
In their fancy cars and their limousines
Been high in the Rockies under the evergreens
I know what I'm needin'
And I don't want to waste more time
I'm in a New York state of mind
It was so easy livin' day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times, the Daily News
It comes down to reality
And it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide
I don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside
I don't have any reasons
I left them all behind
I'm in a New York state of mind
Oh, yeah
It was so easy living day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times, the Daily News
Who, oh, oh whoa, who
It comes down to reality
And it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide
I don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside
I don't have any reasons
I left them all behind
I'm in a New York state of mind
I'm just taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River line
'Cause I'm in a, I'm in a New York state of mind, yea
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this is an awsome song...everything billy joel does is awsome. hes the coolest guy ever and he grew up on long island just like me he even went to the same high school as my mom. mabye im the only teenager that likes billy joel but when ever "im in a new york state of mind" i take a break from my usual punk and emo ad chill to billy joel. i gotta support a fellow long islander :)
New york smiled when this was written
That feinstein fellowe doesn't like Mr. Joel's works very much, does he? Anyway, I've liked Billy Joel since... oh, preschool, before I knew about artists and song-writing, etcetera, I only knew what I heard on the radio. I distinctly remember several of Billy Joel's songs (not this one, mind you) and Sting's, well, NOW he's Sting, but I remember the Police recordings. Oh, how I ramble on, such a chatterbox for a 13 year old!
RANDY NEWMAN MY ASS!
We sang an arrangement of this song in show choir the year we went to New York. He made us, a bunch of touristy Minnesotans clutching our travalers checks and camera's sing this song in front of a bunch of actual highschool choirs who were probably all laughing at us. Ah... memories.
Dude this song is awesome! my school districts honor choir sang this and it was sooo good! i love this song! BILLY JOEL FOR LIFE!
I love whe he adds "And Newsday too" to the list of NY newspapers when he sings this live. It's great when he makes Long island references at local concerts -- sort of makes you feel somewhat closer to him because you have similar experiences, etc.
This song represents New York - and although I'm one of the least New Yorky New Yorkers...this song is amazing. Right at this very moment I'm in a New York State of Mind. That's what happens when a damn yankee liberal decides to go to college in the heart of Texas.
Anywho, I saw him perform this song live...WITH GARTH BROOKS...IN CENTRAL PARK. What an amazing concert. Just Garth was amazing, but when Billy came out ALL my dreams came true. I've been listening to him before I could even remember. And the only thing that I'm the least bit proud about - is the fact that I walked down the same halls he once walked at the HMS (formally HHS)...ahh Billy.
Well, anywho... - if you wanna take a break from the same old, same old listen to this song. It's an amazing piece of music. Billy knows how to do it.
One of the best Billy Joel songs. I love all the major 7th chords and how he emphasizes the notes. just beatiful
Billy wrote this song literally days after returning to NY from California. Next time you listen to the song, picture him on a Greyhound bus, looking out the window, as it drives along the Hudson River towards his new house - and thinking the lyrics to himself (because that is basically how the song came about).