Daryl Hall (born Daryl Franklin Hohl on October 11, 1946) is an American si… Read Full Bio ↴Daryl Hall (born Daryl Franklin Hohl on October 11, 1946) is an American singer and songwriter, best known for his collaboration with John Oates in the duo Hall & Oates. He has released five albums as a solo artist: "Sacred Songs" (1980), "Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine" (1986), "Soul Alone" (1993), "Can't Stop Dreaming" (1996) and "Laughing Down Crying" (2011). He has been the host of the web music series "Live from Daryl's House" since 2007.

His mother played songs by Frank Sinatra to him as a child, and he later became a fan of Motown and other R&B/soul music. He took piano lessons as a child, but he did not like them. He would skip the lessons and ride his bicycle across the bridge from his grandfather's farm over to the heart of the black "Chicken Hill" ghetto, where he could just listen and absorb the music.

In the 1960s, Hall attended Temple University, but did not graduate, preferring instead to spend his time singing on the street corners and play with various musicians and groups. At that time, Daryl Hohl (as he was called then) sang backup for different bands. He eventually changed his last name to Hall. Daryl Hall idolized the Temptations and began to perform session work as a singer. He first met John Oates at a band competition.

After John transferred to a different school, Daryl joined the band Gulliver, which released one eponymous album in 1969 before being dropped from their label.

Daryl is the host of the wildly popular online show entitled "Live From Daryl's House", where Daryl and the band collaborate with artists from various musical genres on the 15th of each month. The first episode aired in 2007, and it's still going strong. Best of all, it's free to watch.

NYCNY
Daryl Hall Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

So whadya want?
Is it déja vu or have I been here before?
I don't know but

Everything about you is still the same
Everything about you is so alive
Too much time around, you start to kick my ass
Too much time away, I lose my lease

(New York love me) so good, so good
(New York love me) keep my head up
(NY love me) NYC, I see
(NY why me) am I NY?

Try to run away
Ya know it's no use
Tongue in cheek so I can't speak
Vibrations knock my screws loose

Everything about you is still the same
Everything about you is so alive
Too much time around, you start to kick my ass
Too much time away, I lose my lease
(New York love me) so good, so good
(New York love me) keep my head up
(NY love me) NYC, I see
(NY why me) am I NY?

Written in the air
Written on return
Nowhere bright as here nowhere else
Written in the air
Written on return
Stones and fever dreams nothing else...
NYC see ya real soon

Try to run away
Ya know it's no use
Tongue in cheek so I can't speak
Vibrations knock my screws loose
Well it ain't love
It ain't art
It's pressure
Pain in the heart that moves me
NYC
That grooves me
NYC
You move me
NYC you lose me
NYC

Everything about you is still the same
Everything about you is so alive
Too much time around, you start to kick my ass
Too much time away, I lose my lease
(New York love me) so good, so good
(New York love me) keep my head up

(NY love me) NYC, I see
(NY why me) am I NY?

Overall Meaning

In Daryl Hall's song NYCNY, he depicts his love and complex relationship with New York City. The lyrics reflect Hall's joy, frustration, and fondness for the city, which he refers to as "NYC." Throughout the song, Hall questions the reason why he is drawn to the city, despite the challenges and difficulties that come with it. He wonders if it's déjà vu or if he has been in this situation before, which means he has a familiarity with the complications of the city.

The lyrics portray a love-hate relationship with the city, as Hall explains that everything about it is still the same, but it can also be challenging. After spending too much time around, it starts to take a toll on him, and the vibrations knock his screws loose. Hall tries to run away, but it's of no use since NYC has taken over his heart and soul.

It's not a love or art that brings him back to the city, but instead, it's the pressure and pain that the city offers that moves him. He ends the song with "NYC move me, NYC you lose me," meaning that despite everything, New York City is still close to his heart, and he will always come back to it.

Line by Line Meaning

So whadya want?
What do you desire?

Is it déja vu or have I been here before?
Does this seem familiar, or have I experienced this before?

I don't know but
I'm unsure, but

Everything about you is still the same
You remain unchanged in every way

Everything about you is so alive
You possess such vitality and energy

Too much time around, you start to kick my ass
Being around you for too long starts to wear me out

Too much time away, I lose my lease
When I'm away from you for too long, I feel like I'm losing my grip on reality

(New York love me) so good, so good
My love for New York is so strong and undeniable

(New York love me) keep my head up
My love for New York keeps me going

(NY love me) NYC, I see
I see the beauty in New York City and feel loved by it

(NY why me) am I NY?
Why do I feel so connected to New York?

Try to run away
I attempt to escape

Ya know it's no use
It's futile

Tongue in cheek so I can't speak
Being tongue-in-cheek makes it hard for me to articulate

Vibrations knock my screws loose
The vibrations around me drive me crazy

Written in the air
It's all around me, intangible

Written on return
I'll remember this feeling when I come back

Nowhere bright as here nowhere else
Nowhere else as vibrant and lively as New York

Stones and fever dreams nothing else...
The city is full of activity and excitement

NYC see ya real soon
New York City, I'll be back soon

It ain't love
This isn't love

It ain't art
This isn't artistic expression

It's pressure
It's the strain and intensity of the city

Pain in the heart that moves me
The emotional turmoil of the city propels me forward

NYC
New York City

That grooves me
The city moves me and inspires me

NYC
New York City

You move me
The city makes me feel and act differently

NYC you lose me
New York City, I've been defeated by you