Hello City
Barenaked Ladies Lyrics

Hello city, hey
The singer greets the city with a sense of familiarity and casualness.

Another night at the palace
The singer is a regular at a specific venue ('the palace') and doesn't have many other options for entertainment.

'Cause there is nothin' else to do
The singer suggests that they have explored other activities in the city and found them lacking or uninteresting.

The same people, the same drinks and
The artist is experiencing a sense of monotony when it comes to their social life.

The same music, the same quicksand
The artist is also finding that the venues they frequent often play the same music, allowing them to be 'sucked in' to an unchanging rhythm.

I think this harbor town is waist deep and sinkin' fast
The singer metaphorically describes the city as being entrenched in a quagmire that's dragging it under.

Hello city, you've found an enemy in me
The singer personifies the city as an adversary who has caused them trouble or hardship.

Second night at the warehouse
The artist has transitioned from one venue to another within the city.

And my mock turtleneck just reeks
The artist acknowledges their own discomfort or embarrassment, as evidenced by the unpleasant smell of their clothing.

From the liquor room to the change room
The artist has moved through several locations within the venue in question.

To the doom and gloom of the hotel room
The singer uses a bleak phrase to describe what might be a relatively minor inconvenience or unpleasantness.

I think this seaside beer hall should sink into the bay
Again, the artist uses a metaphorical image to suggest that the city is flawed, unappealing or otherwise in need of change.

Maybe I caught you at a bad time
The singer considers the possibility that their impression of the city is being colored by their own temporary concerns or perspective.

Maybe I should call you back next week
Similarly, the singer suggests that a different moment in time might yield a more positive interpretation of the city.

Maybe half the fault is mine that the sun didn't shine on Barrington Street
The singer acknowledges that their own mood or perception might be contributing to their unpleasant experiences, rather than the city's inherent flaws.

It's 3 o'clock in the morning
The artist notes the late hour and implies that they are experiencing some level of exhaustion or disorientation.

And I'm hungry so let's eat
The artist has a simple, practical goal in mind in the midst of their frustration with the city.

Climb down three flights
The singer describes their departure from a building or venue.

Too the street lights
The singer notes the urban light pollution or the general sense of being surrounded by the city at night.

And the bar fights
The artist acknowledges the potential for violence or disorder in a city environment, but views it with a sense of detachment or curiosity.

We're just takin' in the sights
The artist is embracing the adventurous or exploratory aspect of being in a new or familiar city environment.

I hope tomorrow that I wake up in my own bed
The artist expresses a sense of homesickness or longing for the comforts of a more familiar place.

What a good place to be
The singer seems to have arrived at a more optimistic or contented perspective towards the city in question.

Don't believe them, cause they speak a different language
The artist implies that there might be underlying tensions or misunderstandings between themselves and people who are native to the city.

And it's happy hour again
The singer takes note of their surroundings and mentions the prevalence of the drink culture in the city.

Hello city, eh
The singer ends the song with another, more casual greeting to the city, perhaps implying that their relationship with it is more nuanced than they initially thought.