Wake Up in New York
Craig Armstrong Lyrics

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Wake up in New York
Put a comb through your hair
Don't you ever want to lie down
When there's no-one else around
I want to say this to you

I know I hurt you
You know you hurt me too

Don't you ever want to lie down
Close your eyes and leave the ground?
I want to get hold of you

I'll meet you in New York
By the drugstore on First Avenue
And then we will lie down
With the buildings all around

I want to say this to you
I want to say this to you

Overall Meaning

The song "Wake Up in New York" by Craig Armstrong is a love song that explores the complicated dynamics of relationships. In the first verse, Armstrong describes waking up in New York and putting a comb through his hair. He then asks a question that many of us may have asked ourselves: "Don't you ever want to lie down/ When there's no-one else around?" This could be interpreted as a desire for solitude and self-reflection or as a longing to be with someone but not feeling able to do so. The chorus is a plea to the person he has hurt and who has hurt him: "I want to say this to you/ I know I hurt you/ You know you hurt me too/ Don't you ever want to lie down/ Close your eyes and leave the ground?/ I want to get hold of you."

In the second verse, Armstrong suggests meeting the person he is addressing in New York "by the drugstore on First Avenue". They will lie down together "with the buildings all around". This could be interpreted as a desire for intimacy amidst the chaos of the city or as a way of seeking refuge from the difficulties in their relationship. The repeated refrain "I want to say this to you" is a way of expressing the depth of his feelings and the importance of communicating them.

Overall, "Wake Up in New York" is a beautiful and poignant song that speaks to the joys and challenges of human relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

Wake up in New York
Wake up to the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps

Put a comb through your hair
Get yourself ready for the day ahead

Don't you ever want to lie down
Don't you ever want to escape the noise and chaos?

When there's no-one else around
When there's no company to share your thoughts with

I want to say this to you
I want to express my thoughts and feelings to you

I know I hurt you
I'm aware that I caused you pain

You know you hurt me too
You also caused me pain

Close your eyes and leave the ground?
Would you like to escape from reality and forget about everything?

I want to get hold of you
I want to reach out and connect with you emotionally

I'll meet you in New York
Let's plan to meet up in the city