New York Town
Guthrie Woody Lyrics
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Standing down in New York town one day
I was standing down in New York town one day
Singing hey, hey, hey, hey
I was broke and I didn't have a dime
I was broke and I didn't have a dime
Yes, I was broke and I didn't have a dime
Every good man gets a little hard luck sometimes
Every good man gets a little hard luck sometimes
Every good man gets a little hard luck sometimes
Singing hey, hey, hey, hey
Down and out and he ain't got a dime
Down and out and he ain't got a dime
Yes, down and out and he ain't got a dime
Singing hey, hey, hey, hey
I'm gonna ride that new morning railroad (train)
I'm gonna ride that new morning train
Yes, I'm gonna ride that new morning train
Singing hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Never comin' back to this man's town again
Never comin' back to this man's town again
Never comin' back to this man's town again
Singing hey, hey, hey, hey
The lyrics to Woody Guthrie's song "New York Town" speak about a man standing in the city of New York without money, experiencing some hard times. Life has dealt him a tough hand and left him "broke and [without] a dime," a feeling that almost everyone can connect with at some point in their life. As the song progresses, the lyrics speak to a sense of hopelessness and desire for a better future, rising above present circumstances.
Through the reference to a "new morning train," the song evokes the image of a way out, hinting at the promise of new beginnings and opportunities. With every verse, the repetition of "hey, hey, hey, hey" creates a simple but catchy chorus that emphasizes the commonalities of human experience. The lyrics remind us that life is hard, but so long as we keep moving forward, there is always hope for something better. The final verse speaks of the decision to leave this "man's town" behind and never return, indicating a sense of liberation and independence.
Overall, "New York Town" speaks to themes of hardship and the struggle to make ends meet. However, it also speaks to a desire for a better future and the hope that keeps us moving forward. Through the simplicity of the lyrics, Guthrie's message resonates with a wide range of people, making it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
I was standing down in New York town one day
I found myself standing in New York town one day
Standing down in New York town one day
I was standing down in New York town one day
I was standing down in New York town one day
I was standing down in New York town one day
Singing hey, hey, hey, hey
I was singing hey, hey, hey, hey
I was broke and I didn't have a dime
I was broke and penniless
I was broke and I didn't have a dime
I was broke and didn't have any money
Yes, I was broke and I didn't have a dime
I was absolutely broke and didn't have any money
Singing hey, hey, hey, hey
I was singing hey, hey, hey, hey
Every good man gets a little hard luck sometimes
Even good men go through hardship at times
Every good man gets a little hard luck sometimes
Every good man faces challenges at some point
Every good man gets a little hard luck sometimes
Hard times come to even the best of men
Singing hey, hey, hey, hey
I was singing hey, hey, hey, hey
Down and out and he ain't got a dime
He was completely broke and didn't have a penny
Down and out and he ain't got a dime
He was destitute and had nothing
Yes, down and out and he ain't got a dime
He was in a dire situation and had nothing
Singing hey, hey, hey, hey
I was singing hey, hey, hey, hey
I'm gonna ride that new morning railroad (train)
I'm going to catch that new morning train
I'm gonna ride that new morning train
I want to ride on the new morning train
Yes, I'm gonna ride that new morning train
I'm definitely going to ride that new morning train
Singing hey, hey, hey, hey
I was singing hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Never comin' back to this man's town again
I'm never returning to this man's town again
Never comin' back to this man's town again
I have no intention of ever coming back to this town
Never comin' back to this man's town again
I'm leaving this town for good and never coming back
Singing hey, hey, hey, hey
I was singing hey, hey, hey, hey
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: WOODY GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bobby Brown
every son of God gets a little hard luck some times
especially when he goes around saying he's the way
Markus Garvey
to fully appreciate the buds, learn the roots know
Tim Brittain
Budds are good
Markus Garvey
an apanage of woody ;-)
Markus Garvey
And thanx for posting. You right Johnfern99
olderthandadirt
coming from "I Am The Way" by Loudon Wainwright iii
Loudon70
Same here, I'm quite ashamed with myself after being a LW fan for decades that I have not played the original song until today.