The City
Joe Purdy Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The city keeps on going, on.

Float down the river with my Iddy and Jay ?
Get off the boat and board a plan to J-K-F and I, ain't slept a week
But it don't seem to matter to the subway squeakers, squeak (and squeak)

The city keeps on going
We just keep on rolling
The city keeps on going
We just keep on rolling, on.

Grand Central Station and got wind they're coming on
And the goodness yesterday ?
No one round oh and I still recognize her
After all these years and she still looks the same
Ah, she still looks the same.

Oh and we end up in Brooklyn
It was rainin' so hard
Come up all day
And the rain to clear it off,
Oh we're just people watching on 3rd and St. Mormons ?
And when the girl's kissing my face, my face
She was just kissing my face

And again, again

Just when I was sick and lonely,
There was a shaking on the ground
We were hiding from the rain
We were riding on the train
Just when I was sick and lonely,
There was a shaking on the ground
Were were hiding from the rain
Were were riding on the train.

She was dancing on the midway
Just kissing my face
She was dancing on the midway
Just kissing my face
Dancing on the midway
Kissing my face




Dancing on the midway
Just waving goodbye.

Overall Meaning

The song “The City” by Joe Purdy portrays the experience of someone who is lost in a big city. The city represents anonymity, chaos, and endless possibilities. The lyrics are a reflection of the feelings of detachment, excitement, loneliness, and wonder that the singer experiences while navigating the city. The first stanza sets the scene by describing a river trip where the singer and his companions, Iddy and Jay, disembark and head to JFK airport, even though they have not slept in a week. The singer then notes the sounds of a subway station and how they meld with the background noise of the city. The chorus, “The city keeps on going, we just keep on rolling,” reminds the listener that life in the city is non-stop, and they must keep up if they intend to survive.


In the following stanzas, the singer describes their journey through Grand Central Station, seeing someone they recognize but who seems to be ignoring them. They then end up in Brooklyn, and the rain drenching the city makes everything look different. On Third and St. Mormons, they watch people, and the singer describes having a romantic moment with a girl who kisses their face. The reference to the shaking of the ground and the train they were on contextualizes the song in Glacia, a city that experiences frequent earthquakes. In the final parts of the song, the singer describes the joy of dancing with the girl and then departing, leaving everything behind.


Line by Line Meaning

The city keeps on going, on.
The city is always in motion and doesn't stop.


Float down the river with my Iddy and Jay?
Traveling with friends named Iddy and Jay by boat.


Get off the boat and board a plan to J-K-F and I, ain't slept a week But it don't seem to matter to the subway squeakers, squeak (and squeak)
Sleep-deprived, taking a plane to JFK airport and then riding the subway where the sound of the squeaky train doesn't bother him.


Grand Central Station and got wind they're coming on And the goodness yesterday? No one round oh and I still recognize her After all these years and she still looks the same Ah, she still looks the same.
Being at Grand Central Station and aware of someone's arrival who is familiar and hasn't changed much over the years.


Oh and we end up in Brooklyn It was rainin' so hard Come up all day And the rain to clear it off, Oh we're just people watching on 3rd and St. Mormons? And when the girl's kissing my face, my face She was just kissing my face And again, again
Ending up in Brooklyn on a rainy day and spending time watching people on 3rd and St. while being kissed on the face by a girl.


Just when I was sick and lonely, There was a shaking on the ground We were hiding from the rain We were riding on the train Just when I was sick and lonely, There was a shaking on the ground Were were hiding from the rain Were were riding on the train.
During a low point of feeling sick and lonely, a train ride is interrupted by some shaking and rain.


She was dancing on the midway Just kissing my face She was dancing on the midway Just kissing my face Dancing on the midway Kissing my face Dancing on the midway Just waving goodbye.
A woman dancing and kissing his face at a midway before saying goodbye.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOE PURDY, WILSON GOLDEN, WILSON H GOLDEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@WildCath

The city keeps on going on

Float down the river with my Matty D and Jay
Get off the boat and board a plane to JFK and I
Haven't slept in a week
But it don't seem to matter to the subway speakers squeaking at my feet

The city keeps on going
We just keep on rolling
The city keeps on going
We just keep on rolling on

Grand Central Station got a windy coming down
Independence yesterday, ain't no one around
Oh I still recognize her after all these years
She still looks the same
Oh, she still looks the same

The city keeps on going
We just keep on rolling
The city keeps on going
Oh, we just keep on rolling
Rolling on
Rolling on

When we left Brooklyn it was raining so hard
Come up on 8th and the rain it cleared off
We're just people watching on 3rd and St. Mark's
Wendy girl just kissing my face, my face
She was just kissing my face

The city keeps on going
We just keep on rolling
The city keeps on going
We just keep on rolling
Again, again, again
The city keeps on going
We just keep on rolling
The city keeps on going
Oh, we just keep on rolling
Rolling on
Rolling on

Just when I was sick and down
There was a shaking on the ground
We were hiding from the rain
We were riding on the train
Just when I was sink and down
There was a shaking on the ground
We were hiding from the rain
We were riding on the train

She was dancing on the midway
Just kissing my face
She was dancing on the midway
Just kissing my face
Dancing on the midway
Just kissing my face
Dancing on the midway
Just waving goodbye



All comments from YouTube:

@patricfernandes1065

"- You're my person.
- I am?
- Yes, you are."

@cynthiaannbarnhill4347

I'm on my 26th rewatch of Greys Anatomy it never gets old for me
I'm just glad I searched this song I love it!

@theresalottobesaidaboutadu1025

I found my people! And I swear everytime I find a new song to fall inlove with.

@DamienHurts

I'm so embarrassed for you on your behalf. 26th? You know there are other shows that are actually better than the drivel that is GA... right? Find a braincell never watch that show again.

@katherineraina7344

this is breaking my heart tonight ~ Covid 19 ~ and the city isn't going...love and prayers to NY <3

@bhaskarchatterjee5249

Found this song from Gray's anatomy and I love it !!!!

@cynthiaannbarnhill4347

Same lol

@onlyRBO

I love this song, I love Grey's Anatomy and I also love New York!!! This video is so perfect! Thank you so much

@MrMatheusfranklin

"You're My Person" <3

@MrLITTLESWEET

Me encanta!!!

More Comments

More Versions