Born in Brooklyn, Nilsson moved to Los Angeles as a teenager to escape his family's poor financial situation. While working as a computer programmer at a bank, he grew interested in musical composition and close-harmony singing and was successful in having some of his songs recorded by various artists, such as the Monkees. In 1967, he debuted on RCA Victor with the LP Pandemonium Shadow Show, followed by a variety of releases that included a collaboration with Randy Newman (Nilsson Sings Newman, 1970) and the original children's story The Point! (1971).
He created the first remix album, Aerial Pandemonium Ballet, in 1971, and recorded the first mashup song ("You Can't Do That") in 1967. His most commercially successful album, Nilsson Schmilsson (1971), produced the international top 10 singles "Without You" and "Coconut". His other top 10 hit, "Everybody's Talkin'" (1968), was featured prominently in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy. A version of Nilsson's "One," released by Three Dog Night in 1969, also reached the U.S. top 10.
During a 1968 press conference, The Beatles were asked what their favorite American group was and answered "Nilsson." Sometimes called "the American Beatle," he soon formed close friendships with John Lennon and Ringo Starr, joining them in the Hollywood Vampires drinking club. He and Lennon produced one collaborative album, Pussy Cats (1974). After 1977, Nilsson left RCA, and his record output diminished. In response to Lennon's 1980 murder, he took a hiatus from the music industry to campaign for gun control. For the rest of his life, he recorded only sporadically. In 1994, Nilsson died of a heart attack while in the midst of recording what became his last album, Losst and Founnd (2019).
The craft of Nilsson's songs and the defiant attitude he projected remain touchstones for later generations of indie rock musicians. Nilsson was voted No. 62 in Rolling Stone's 2015 list of the "100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time," where he was described as "a pioneer of the Los Angeles studio sound" and "a crucial bridge" between 1960s psychedelia and the 1970s singer-songwriter era. The RIAA certified Nilsson Schmilsson and Son of Schmilsson (1972) as gold records, indicating over 500,000 units sold each. He earned two Grammy Awards (for "Everybody's Talkin'" and "Without You").
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Nilsson
Discography
Spotlight on Nilsson (1966)
Pandemonium Shadow Show (1967)
Aerial Ballet (1968)
Skidoo (1968) (soundtrack)
Harry (1969)
Nilsson Sings Newman (1970)
The Point! (1970) (studio album and soundtrack)
Nilsson Schmilsson (1971)
Son of Schmilsson (1972)
A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night (1973)
Son of Dracula (1974) (soundtrack)
Pussy Cats (1974)
Duit on Mon Dei (1975)
Sandman (1976)
...That's the Way It Is (1976)
Knnillssonn (1977)
Flash Harry (1980)
Popeye (1980) (soundtrack)
Losst and Founnd (2019)
I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City
Harry Nilsson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And by tomorrow I'll be on my way
I guess the lord must be in New York City
I'm so tired of getting nowhere
Seein' my prayers going unanswered
I guess the lord must be in New York City
Ain't it wonderful to be
Where I've always wanted to be?
For the first time I'll breathe free in the New York City
Say goodbye to all my sorrow
And by tomorrow I'll be on my way
I guess the lord must be in New York City
So tired of getting nowhere
And seein' my prayers going unanswered
I guess the lord must be in New York City
Well, here I am Lord, knocking at your back door
Ain't it wonderful to be
Where I've always wanted to be?
For the first time I'll breathe free in the New York City
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
The song "I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City" by Harry Nilsson is an ode to the city that the singer believes has some kind of divine connection. The lyrics speak of leaving behind sorrows and prayers that have gone unanswered, and finding a sense of freedom and relief in New York City. The repeated lines "I guess the lord must be in New York City" suggest an almost mystical quality to the city, as if it possesses a kind of higher power or energy that the singer feels drawn to.
The opening lines of the song suggest a sense of optimism and determination to leave behind any troubles and move forward to something better. The repeated line "by tomorrow I'll be on my way" reinforces this sense of urgency and hope. The mention of unanswered prayers and getting nowhere suggests a feeling of disillusionment or disappointment with the singer's past experiences, and the sense that New York City represents a fresh start or a new beginning.
The final lines of the song, with the singer knocking at the Lord's back door and finding freedom and relief in New York City, suggest a kind of spiritual journey or quest for meaning. The city itself becomes a symbol of hope and possibility, a place where anything is possible and where the singer can finally find the sense of fulfillment that has eluded them so far. In short, the lyrics of the song suggest an almost mystical connection to New York City, as if the city itself possesses some kind of divine energy that draws the singer to it.
Line by Line Meaning
I say goodbye to all my sorrows
I am bidding adieu to all my worries and troubles
And by tomorrow I'll be on my way
In a day's time, I'll be on my journey
I guess the lord must be in New York City
It appears that the Almighty is present in the city of New York
I'm so tired of getting nowhere
I am extremely weary of not making any progress
Seein' my prayers going unanswered
Observing that my supplications are not being heard
I guess the lord must be in New York City
It seems that God can be found in New York City
Well, here I am Lord, knocking at your back door
I am at Your service, knocking at Your back entrance
Ain't it wonderful to be
Isn't it marvelous to be
Where I've always wanted to be?
In a place where I've always yearned to be?
For the first time I'll breathe free in the New York City
For the first time, I will inhale the air of freedom in New York City
Say goodbye to all my sorrow
Bidding farewell to all my sadness
And by tomorrow I'll be on my way
And tomorrow I shall embark on my journey
I guess the lord must be in New York City
I surmise that the Lord is located in New York City
So tired of getting nowhere
Worn down by the constant feeling of not reaching my destination
And seein' my prayers going unanswered
Also, observing my supplications going without an answer
I guess the lord must be in New York City
I deduce that the Lord must be residing in the metropolis of New York
Well, here I am Lord, knocking at your back door
Once again, I find myself at your service, rapping at your rear portal
Ain't it wonderful to be
Isn't it delightful to be
Where I've always wanted to be?
At a place where all my longing and desires have been directed?
For the first time I'll breathe free in the New York City
I'll have my initial taste of liberation in New York City!
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY NILSSON, HARRY EDWARD NILSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joebelle3487
Besides the voice, the best thing about Harry Nilsson was that he never pretended to be anything other than what he was. What a talent; taken far too soon. RIP Harry...
@datetley
Yes
@michaelcole8999
The rare kind. A humble kind of Lou Reed breed
@lindapoplin4473
Amen to THAT. I LOVED him
@debbyharrison9198
He was his own man. Very respected and envied..like Tom Petty❤️
@elmaloalejandro7354
Great comment
@carolynstockton5876
One of the most beautiful God given voices ever
@nancy6160
Just angelic! Ah.
@illinoisdoug
Ain't that the truth!!
@mark1952able
YES!