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New York Lyrics
If you were here beside me,
Instead of in New York
If the curve of you was curved on me
I'd tell you that I loved you
Before I even knew you
'Cause I loved the simple thought of you
If our hearts had never broken
Well there's no joy in the mending
So much this hurt can teach us both
There's distance and there's silence
Your words have never left me
They're the prayer that I say every day
Come on come out come here come here
Come on come out come here come here
Come on come out come here come here
Come on come out come here come here
The lone neon lights
And the heat of the ocean
And the fire that had started to spark
I miss it all from the love to the lightning
And the lack of it snaps me in two
If you were here beside me
Instead of New York
In the arms you said you'd never leave
I'd tell you that it's simple
And it was only ever thus
There is nowhere else that I belong
Come on come out come here come here
Come on come out come here come here
Come on come out come here come here
Come on come out come here come here
The lone neon lights
And the heat of the ocean
And the fire that had started to spark
I miss it all from the love to the lightning
And the lack of it snaps me in two
Just give me a sign
There is end in a beginning
Til the quiet chaos driving me mad
The lone neon lights
And the heat of the ocean
And the fire that had started to go out
Instead of in New York
If the curve of you was curved on me
Before I even knew you
'Cause I loved the simple thought of you
Well there's no joy in the mending
So much this hurt can teach us both
Your words have never left me
They're the prayer that I say every day
The lone neon lights
And the heat of the ocean
And the fire that had started to spark
I miss it all from the love to the lightning
And the lack of it snaps me in two
Instead of New York
In the arms you said you'd never leave
And it was only ever thus
There is nowhere else that I belong
And the heat of the ocean
And the fire that had started to spark
I miss it all from the love to the lightning
And the lack of it snaps me in two
There is end in a beginning
Til the quiet chaos driving me mad
The lone neon lights
And the heat of the ocean
And the fire that had started to go out
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I believe this song is about a relationship that involved long distance that didn't work out, and the singer is having a hard time forgetting it. In this particular scenario, the person is in New York, and they maybe tried to continue what they had, but it just couldn't work out due to the distance and possibly the fact this person is focusing on their personal future.. and timing wasn't right. He hopes they may be together in the future, but also accepts that may not happen. To sum it up, Its about the 'the one that could of been, but never was'.
" I'd tell you that I loved you, before I even knew you Cause I loved the simple thought of you" This in my opinion means that he didn't know he was going to fall in love as hard as he did, and he feels in some way they are meant to be, so if he saw this person again, he'd say that he's always loved them from the start, as he felt he was meant to.
"If our hearts are never broken and there's no joy in the mending, There's so much this hurt can teach us both, And there's distance and there's silence, your words have never left me, They're the prayer that I say every day" The start of it is explaining how if they never re-connect down the road like he hopes and fall in love again, there is so much that they both can learn from what they experienced. they opened each others eyes to new things from their love. And as this person is distancing themselves and they are growing apart, he will forever hold onto this persons words, because he'll never forget them.
"The lone neon lights and the ache of the ocean, And the fire that was starting to spark I miss it all, from the love to the lightning, And the lack of it snaps me in two" The part of the ocean shows us that literally the ocean separated the two of them, hence causing the ache (not sure if he actually says ache or 'eke' but either way), and their love was just about to grow into something much deeper before it had to end. He misses the good and the bad from it all, and his heart is breaking without this person.
At the end, his last line changing to "the fire that was starting to go" means that their love is dying. They couldn't work through the distance.
I personally connect to this song a lot as I am going through something exactly like this, this is a very sad song of a beautifully tragic love.
It's obvious what the song is about and it's another example of Gary's brilliant way of telling the story without a rhyming scheme. He's also the best at phrase repitition to drive home the emotion.
This song can be compared to Jim and Pam off of The Office (not saying this song is based off of that). Basically, Pam has to go to New York for 6 months to take a class, leaving Jim in Scranton. He misses her insanely.
This song is about actual, literal distance being hurtful in a relationship. The girl is in New York for some reason, and the guy loves her and misses her insanely. His life back wherever he is is meaningless, and lonely. The girl left right when things were starting to get good for them, they were really hitting it off, falling in love (the fire that was starting to spark). He ends the song with "the fire that's starting to go out". This means that the distance between the two of them is causing him to maybe despise her for not being with him. He's falling out of love. This is a very sad/wanting song.
The word is most definitely "eke" *as in, "... the eke of the ocean").
The word is most definitely "eke" *as in, "... the eke of the ocean").
It's an old word that means "stretch" or "lengthen." In this context it refers to the way that the ocean seems to grow bigger and the distance greater, the longer that the two are apart.
It's an old word that means "stretch" or "lengthen." In this context it refers to the way that the ocean seems to grow bigger and the distance greater, the longer that the two are apart.
Great songwriting. Thanks Snow Patrol!
Great songwriting. Thanks Snow Patrol!
The girl has gone to New York and left him behind.
[Possible corrections- "nights" and "ache"] "The lone neon (n/l)ights and the ache of the ocean and the fire that was starting to spark I miss it all, from the love to the lightning"
"If our hearts are never broken THEN there's no joy in the mending THOUGH there's distance and there's silence...."
[I thought the correct lyrics were "lone neon nights", as in nights in the city by yourself. I think the word is also "ache" instead of heat... it's got a little irish accent on it ("eche") and ache is used in a lot of gL songs.] They had a very passionate relationship and perhaps fought often [love is love... lightning is fighting] and by the end we know the passion is gone [the fire that was starting to go out.]
Second verse: "IN the arms" instead of "of the arms". I also thought it was "us" instead of "thus" but both make sense...
[Possible corrections- "and" and "mad"] "Just give me a sign there's an end and a beginning to the quiet chaos driving me mad" He's unsure if the relationship is really over or not... he still loves her and is battling to give up his feelings but cannot. The emotion is expressed perfectly and we get the most accurate decsription of that desperate-wishful feeling ("quiet chaos".) Beautifully written song.
Correction to my last post: the lyrics are "ever thus", not "ever us"... I listened and realized it makes more sense. It also may be "eke of the ocean" instead of "ache"? Can someone with official lyrics and/or a northern irish accent help out?
What Gary says about the song: "I'm really happy with the words," says Gary. "I always try to write about personal experiences - New York is about a girl I was seeing over there. We both had strong feelings for one another, but we were never in the same place at the same time. It's about missed opportunities. (From the SP website)
on the booklet thing that comes with the album it says eek :) but ache would make sense all the same!
on the booklet thing that comes with the album it says eek :) but ache would make sense all the same!
I feel that the "if our hearts are never broken/ then there's no joy in the mending" line means that if there is pain from their separation, the day they are together again will bring happiness. The "give me a sign/ there's an end and a beginning" line might mean that with the end of their separation comes the beginning of a new life for them. I have a special connection to this song, since I am in a long distance relationship with someone who lives across the ocean from me, and I am a resident of New York (:
"if our hearts are never broken, then there's no joy in the mending. There's so much this hurt can teach us both."
Falling out of love can be so devastating. Even though its difficult, when you fnd that person that makes you feel okay to love again, to hope and to feel. Thats the "joy in the mending" but you'd never have that euphoric feeling if you never got your heart broken in the first place.
One of my favorite lines is " I miss it all, from the love to the lightning and the lack of it snaps me in two." This song has touched my soul. With the transparent heartache and longing, but loving message. I love snow patrol!:)
i really hate and love this song. i hate it cause it always reminds me of the one that got away. i love it cause it so beautifully written and sung and the words are so powerful. i'd tell you i loved you before i even knew you, your words have never left me, they're the prayer i say every day, there's and end and a beginning, to the quiet chaos driving me back. some of my all time favorite lyrics
A different take...
I know it's probably a wrong one, but all I can think is that New York is a metaphor for death.
This song is asking, "please come back"
I have listened to this song a lot today being it the day my sister leaves for collage in nyc and I tells of love which is something siblings have so I hear it this way of her leaving and my pain