The first microhouse track to gain mainstream popularity by a non-glitch artist was Isolee's 1999 anthem, 'Beau Mot Plage'. However, microhouse did not begin to rapidly build in popularity until the early 2000s with the advent of record labels such as Kompakt, Perlon, Spectral Sound, Fabric, Telegraph and Force Inc. The term microhouse is usually credited to music journalist Philip Sherburne, writing for the magazine The Wire in 2001, to describe, according to Stelfox, "the spectral, hypnotic interpretation of classic Chicago grooves emerging on labels such as Perlon, Kompakt, Playhouse, Ongaku, Klang Elektronik and the Mille Plateaux family of imprints-most notably Force Tracks and Force Inc- at the turn of the millennium."[1]
NEW DORP. NEW YORK
SBTRKT Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep it stuck right there 'til the lumber comes
Leave a smooth operator lookin' like a bum
My girl's got a city to run
Got the key to the kingdom where the money's from
Never seen calienda, never seen the sun
(And he thinks I'm the negative one)
Flag flappin' in Manhattan
New Dorp New York
Gargoyles gargling oil
Peak of the empire, top of the rock
Flag flappin' in Manhattan
New Dorp New York
Gargoyles gargling oil
Peak of the empire, top of the rock
My girl's got a little schtick
Keep your coat up in the kitchen while you feed the kids
Keep your waitin' in the winter while the tension ticks
My girl got a limousine
Got a full time job just to keep it clean
Got a speaker in the trunk; you know where it's done
(You think I'm the negative one)
Flag flappin' in Manhattan
New Dorp New York
Gargoyles gargling oil
Peak of the empire, top of the rock
Flag flappin' in Manhattan
New Dorp New York
Gargoyles gargling oil
Peak of the empire, top of the rock
New Dorp New York
Late nights and black Israelites
White women singing under dying the lights
Baseball bats that never hit home runs
Late nights and black Israelites
White women singing under dying the lights
Baseball bats that never hit home runs
I got a baseball bat, never hit home runs
My girl's got a minimum
Keep it stuck right there 'til the lumber comes
Leave a smooth operator lookin' like a bum
My girl's got a city to run
Got the key to the kingdom where the money's from
Never seen calienda, never seen the sun
New Dorp New York
Flag flappin' in Manhattan
New Dorp New York
Gargoyles gargling oil
Peak of the empire, top of the rock
Flag flappin' in Manhattan
New Dorp New York
Gargoyles gargling oil
Peak of the empire, top of the rock
My girl's got a little schtick
Keep your coat up in the kitchen while you feed the kids
Keep your waitin' in the winter while the tension ticks
My girl got a limousine
Got a full time job just to keep it clean
Got a speaker in the trunk; you know where it's done
My girl's got a city to run
The lyrics of SBTRKT’s “New Dorp. New York” give insight into the hustle and bustle of New York City life, particularly from the perspective of a woman who’s got a lot on her plate. The first verse references this woman and her ability to keep her life together, while leaving men who try to “operate” alongside her in the dust. She’s not interested in slowing down and is in control of the city she runs. The second verse goes on to reference the specific location of New Dorp, Staten Island, a somewhat forgotten area of New York City. The image of gargoyles gargling oil is a nod to the industrial nature of the location. The chorus repeats the image of a flag flapping in Manhattan before returning to the woman mentioned earlier keeping up the facade of having it all together. The repetition of “New Dorp New York” at the end further emphasizes the importance of location in the lyrics.
The song’s bridge takes a shift and mentions “Late nights and black Israelites/ White women singing under dying lights”. This line highlights the unique diversity that exists within the city, with various cultures overlapping and influencing each other. The mention of “baseball bats that never hit home runs” is a nod to the struggles that can come with trying to make it in the city. Overall, the song describes a woman who is in charge of her own life and the city she lives in but faces challenges and struggles along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
My girl's got a minimum
My partner has a basic set of standards and expectations.
Keep it stuck right there 'til the lumber comes
Maintain the current state of affairs until the situation improves.
Leave a smooth operator lookin' like a bum
Make even the most skilled person look unprepared and inept.
My girl's got a city to run
My partner has important responsibilities in the city.
Got the key to the kingdom where the money's from
Has access to the source of wealth and power in this area.
Never seen calienda, never seen the sun
Has never experienced warmth, happiness or luxury.
(And he thinks I'm the negative one)
Despite this, others still see me as overly pessimistic.
Flag flappin' in Manhattan
The flag waving in the wind over New York City.
New Dorp New York
Referring to a neighborhood in Staten Island and its connection to NYC as a whole.
Gargoyles gargling oil
Gargoyles represent the grand but grotesque monuments of the city, consumed by the oil that fuels its machinery.
Peak of the empire, top of the rock
This is the peak of wealth, power, and success in this region of the world.
My girl's got a little schtick
My partner has a particular way of doing things or a characteristic behavior.
Keep your coat up in the kitchen while you feed the kids
Keep your guard up even in familiar, domestic settings.
Keep your waitin' in the winter while the tension ticks
Endure a painful waiting period during a period of tension or conflict.
My girl got a limousine
My partner has a fancy car that reflects her success.
Got a full time job just to keep it clean
Has to work hard to maintain the image and status associated with the car.
Got a speaker in the trunk; you know where it's done
She sets the tone for her world by using her car stereo to share her music.
Late nights and black Israelites
Refers to encounters with the religious group that emphasizes black identity.
White women singing under dying the lights
A more literal description of a particular scene where white women sing under dim lights.
Baseball bats that never hit home runs
An ineffective approach or strategy that never achieves its intended goal.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Ezra Koenig, Aaron Thomas Jerome Foulds
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@realokoyono
my favorite part is the lady that says "and he thinks im the negative one"
i love the tone of her voice and her accent
@thebigfaces23
Its not a woman. He is from the band 'Vampire weekend' x
@elexisintrovertedsloth2648
TheBIGfaces the first voice that says it is a woman
@tztokjad95
No you cannot have her BOBS
@masramakamba8597
nieuwe dorp, nieuw Amsterdam... give credit where it's due... waar zijn mijn NL's
@MrQuinnlord
That whole back and forth is so cheesy and kinda devalues the whole song
@hanse4264
8 years later this song still randomly pops into my head every now n then
@stacihatesyou8951
Who else is in love with this song because of "THE IRREGULARS" ?
@suvratco
221B calling 🐚
@leonievassiliou7178
Meeeeeee