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NYC Ghosts & Flowers Lyrics
[Lee]
when the phone rang, 3 in the morn, dead middle of night
there was nuthin on the line
i set back the silent receiver / tiny flames lit in my head
hey did any of you freaks here ever remember lenny?
i can't remember his last name
he's turned to dust now, one of the chosen few
left out in the rain, out of town again
left out in the rain, ocean bound i guess
between the matress and a column of hazy faces
i remember every word you said
quite a clear picture ev'ry word you said
the door was open but the way was not lit
and there was no way out of my head
on a crimson hiway by a chrome bumper i last saw you:
alive / inclined to thrive / evening fireflies lit sparks around yr head
but wait a minute let's back up a bit:
some famous stars were busted by the thought police down on fashion avenue
impersonating real men / not knowing who they really were
now here at dark corners all is calm and quiet and good
the kids are up late dreaming quiet questions in a graceful mood:
can you please pass me a jug of winter light?
fold me in an ocean's whim?
in sweet corrosive fire light?
in the city made of tin?
are you famous under the skin?
familiar with the things you wanted?
able now to take it all in?
making peace w/ every hole in the story?
did lightning keep you up all night?
illuminate the soot and grit?
can you tell how high the sky tonight?
dig out from under in spite of it?
can you cover up the one that floats?
can you push back the hours?
i hear yr voice, i speak yr name
among nyc ghosts and flowers
will we meet? to run again?
thru nyc ghosts and flowers
when the phone rang, 3 in the morn, dead middle of night
there was nuthin on the line
i set back the silent receiver / tiny flames lit in my head
hey did any of you freaks here ever remember lenny?
i can't remember his last name
he's turned to dust now, one of the chosen few
left out in the rain, out of town again
left out in the rain, ocean bound i guess
i remember every word you said
quite a clear picture ev'ry word you said
the door was open but the way was not lit
and there was no way out of my head
alive / inclined to thrive / evening fireflies lit sparks around yr head
some famous stars were busted by the thought police down on fashion avenue
impersonating real men / not knowing who they really were
now here at dark corners all is calm and quiet and good
the kids are up late dreaming quiet questions in a graceful mood:
fold me in an ocean's whim?
in sweet corrosive fire light?
in the city made of tin?
familiar with the things you wanted?
able now to take it all in?
making peace w/ every hole in the story?
illuminate the soot and grit?
can you tell how high the sky tonight?
dig out from under in spite of it?
can you push back the hours?
i hear yr voice, i speak yr name
among nyc ghosts and flowers
will we meet? to run again?
thru nyc ghosts and flowers
Song Info
Submitted by
shut On Dec 24, 2001
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How can no one have commented on prob the most interesting SY song ever? I was just going to try and talk ab it but i still have no idea what this damn song is about. HELP!!!
It is so difficult to talk about their songs. There are extremely moving, often sarcastic, but impossible to understand at times. To me, this one is just pure feeling of nostalgy. Maybe more because of the music than the lyrics.
Hmm.. a tough one indeed.
All Lee's lyrics gives me the impression of random thinking connected somehow to a deeper, unique and very specific idea. But this idea rather remains hidden. It's like Notebook or Scriptures of the Golden Eternity: we got just the impression of there's something deeper, but we never get to know what is it.
But, then again, for me, this words are about fame and anonymity, and the struggle between them inside Lee's head. Or maybe he's just mocking us all.
In any case, it's a GREAT song.
The first section gives me the felling that it's a voice inside lee's head, or the result of a schizophrenia. 'phone rang three in the morning. No one on the other end of the reciever' - no-one would be, it's a figment of his imagation.
'Can any of you remember lenny' - asking other people which he imagines.
'The door was open but the way was not lit, and there was no way out of my head' He realises he has a mental problem, but cannot rid himself of it.
'some famous stars were busted by the thought police down on fashion avenue, impersonating real men' Lee's link back to other examples of people feeling what he is feeling and hearing. Linking it to celebrities.
That's what i interpret from the first few verses, the rest just appear to be ajumble of words orchestrated in a beautiful, illogical way.