New York's Not My Home
Croce Jim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And all my thoughts were cloudy
And I had begun to doubt all the things that were me
Been in so many places
You know I've run so many races
And looked into the empty faces of the people of the night
And something is just not right
'Cause I know that I gotta get out of here
I'm so alone
Don't you know that I gotta get out of here
'Cause, New York's not my home
Though all the streets are crowded
There's something strange about it
I lived there about a year and I never once felt at home
I thought I'd make the big time
I learned a lot of lessons awful quick
And now I'm telling you
That they were not the nice kind
And it's been so long since I have felt fine
That's the reason that I gotta get out of here
I'm so alone
Don't you know that I gotta get out of here
'Cause New York's not my home
That's the reason that I gotta get out of here
I'm so alone
Don't you know that I gotta get out of here
'Cause New York's not my home
In Jim Croce's song "New York's Not My Home," the lyrics describe the feeling of being lost and alone in the bustle of New York City. The singer feels as though they are spinning and their thoughts are clouded, causing them to doubt their own identity. Despite having been to many places and running many races, they have never been able to find their place in the city. They describe feeling strange about the crowded streets and never once feeling at home despite living there for a year. They had hoped to make it big but instead learned painful lessons and now just want to escape.
This feeling of not belonging is a universal experience that many can relate to, regardless of whether they have been to New York or not. The lyrics capture the isolation and disillusionment that can come from chasing after a dream and finding it unfulfilling. The singer knows that they need to leave in order to feel whole again, suggesting that moving on can provide a way out of the darkness.
Overall, Croce's song expresses a sense of longing for belonging and the search for identity in a big city, touching on themes of disillusionment, isolation, and the struggle to find one's place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, things were spinning round me
My life was so chaotic and overwhelming
And all my thoughts were cloudy
I couldn't think clearly and my mind was filled with confusion
And I had begun to doubt all the things that were me
I lost my sense of self and started questioning who I was
Been in so many places
I've traveled to many different cities
You know I've run so many races
I've competed and worked hard in many aspects of my life
And looked into the empty faces of the people of the night
I've seen the tired and lonely faces of those who are out late at night
And something is just not right
Something feels off or wrong
'Cause I know that I gotta get out of here
I am certain that I need to leave this city
I'm so alone
I feel isolated and disconnected from others
Don't you know that I gotta get out of here
I need to escape from this place
'Cause, New York's not my home
I don't belong in New York City
Though all the streets are crowded
Even though there are always people around
There's something strange about it
It feels uneasy or unsettling
I lived there about a year and I never once felt at home
Even after a year of living in New York, I never felt like I belonged there
I thought I'd make the big time
I had high hopes for myself in this city
I learned a lot of lessons awful quick
I experienced many difficult and painful lessons very quickly
And now I'm telling you
I'm saying this to make my feelings clear
That they were not the nice kind
These lessons were harsh and unpleasant
And it's been so long since I have felt fine
It's been a while since I felt good or content
That's the reason that I gotta get out of here
This is why I need to leave New York
I'm so alone
I feel lonely and isolated
Don't you know that I gotta get out of here
I need to emphasize how important it is for me to leave
'Cause New York's not my home
I don't belong in this city
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBERT J. RITCHIE, JAMES J. CROCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind