McRae was born in Harlem, New York, on the 8th April 1920, and studied piano as a child. As a teenager she came to the attention of Teddy Wilson and his wife, the composer Irene Kitchings Wilson. Through their influence, one of McRae’s early songs, "Dream of Life", was recorded by Wilson’s longtime collaborator Billie Holiday.
By the late 1940s she was well known among the modern jazz musicians who gathered at Minton's Playhouse, Harlem’s most famous jazz club, where she was the intermission pianist. But it was while working in Brooklyn that she came to the attention of Decca’s Milt Gabler. Her five year association with Decca yielded twelve LPs.
The musicians she sang with include Benny Carter, Mercer Ellington, Count Basie, Sammy Davis Jr, Dave Brubeck, and Louis Armstrong. She was married once (and briefly), to drummer Kenny Clarke.
McRae died on the 10th November 1994.
New York State Of Mind
Carmen McRae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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'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
In "New York State of Mind" by Carmen McRae, the singer suggests that some individuals might choose to leave their familiar surroundings and take a break from their daily routine by travelling to popular vacation spots like Miami or Hollywood. But for the singer, the desire is to return to New York City, which has the power to draw people in who are familiar with the city's inherent charm, unique character, and cultural treasures.
The opening line, "Some folks like to get away," is presented with a sense of amusement as the singer boasts that they prefer travelling by a Greyhound bus instead of the more luxurious mode of transportation: a limousine or an airplane. While saying this, the pianist and other musicians play a melody that resembles the sounds of a bus riding on a highway. The chorus of the song highlights the distinctive desires and pleasures that New York offers, which cannot be found anywhere else, and sets a nostalgic tone: "I'm in a New York state of mind."
The second verse suggests that the singer has experienced other places and things in life, including meeting movie stars, visiting the Rockies, and enjoying the beautiful evergreen forests. However, there is something about New York that cannot be found anywhere else. The singer then moves on to talk about the importance of the daily news in her life and emphasizes her willingness to give and take, as well as her appreciation of the rhythm and blues music.
The bridge of the song brings it all together, as the singer reflects on how the fascination with New York City has not faded despite its realities, including the crowded streets of Chinatown or the skyscrapers of Riverside. None of that matters because the city offers something that can't be found anywhere else, and the singer leaves behind all of her personal reasons to return to the city that never sleeps because she is in a "New York state of mind."
Line by Line Meaning
Some folks like to get away,
Some people enjoy taking a break from their usual surroundings
Take a holiday from the neighborhood.
They go on holiday to get away from their usual surroundings
Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood.
They go to places like Miami Beach or Hollywood to relax and unwind
But I'm takin' a Greyhound on the Hudson River line.
Instead of going to a relaxing destination, I'm taking a bus to New York City
I'm in a New York state of mind.
I'm feeling inspired and excited about being in New York
I've seen all the movie stars in their fancy cars and their limousines.
I've been to places with famous people and luxurious cars
Been high in the Rockies under the evergreens.
I've also been to places with scenic views and nature
I know what I'm needin', and I don't wanna waste more time.
I know exactly what I want and I don't want to spend any more time without it
It was so easy livin' day by day
It used to be easy to live without thinking about the future
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
I was disconnected from the important things in life
But now I need a little give and take
I need more interaction and exchange with other people
The New York Times, the Daily News.
I need to be informed of current events and news
It comes down to reality, and it's fine with me cause I've let it slide.
I realize that I need to face reality and I'm okay with it because I've been avoiding it
I don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside.
I don't really care about the location or the details, as long as I'm in New York
I don't have any reasons.
I don't have any specific reason for being in New York, I just feel drawn to it
I left them all behind.
I left all my reasons behind, and I'm going to just go for it
I'm in a New York state of mind.
I'm fully immersed and focused on being in New York
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Billy Joel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@guestmartina4103
I was blessed enough to be up front to see this Queen on stage in New York. Hallelujah❤💖💞💎💋
@trumpet_gabo
Amazing Freddie Hubbard solo 🎺
@user-vb9pb1hp2t
Fantastic song,great voice
@sasw77intwo
Beautiful ❤️ she had an incredible voice.
@wouterbikkel8276
Beautiful trumpet solo!
@TonyblanquitoMaxi
Beautiful song
@paulrouhan7288
Classic
@vgamerul4617
First
Has one vowel.
@sverige11074
fantastic song, fabulous artist.