Some of the films in Carpenter's career have been critical and commercial failures, with two notable exceptions mentioned above. Yet his soundtrack work has received much praise, bringing comparisons with contemporary dark electronic music. As well, many of his works from the 70s and the 80s that initially had mixed reviews such as 'Dark Star' (1974), 'Assault on Precinct 13' (1976), 'The Thing' (1982), 'Starman' (1984), 'Big Trouble in Little China' (1986), and 'They Live' (1988) have since been seen as cult classics, and Carpenter has been acknowledged as an influential filmmaker by many both in and out of the industry. His latest musical release, an album titled 'Lost Themes', came out in early 2015.
Everyone's Coming to New York
John Carpenter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a gun
The Big Apple is plenty of fun
Stab a priest
With a fork
And you'll spend your vacation in New York
Take a truck
You can get here by stealing a buck
This is bliss
It's a lark
Buddy, everyone's coming to New York!
No more Yankees
Strike the word from your ears
Spin the roulette
There's no more opera at the Met
This is hell
This is fate
But now this is your world and it's great
So rejoice
Pop a cork
Buddy, everyone's coming to New York!
To the cop
With a gun
The Big Apple is plenty of fun
Stab a priest
With a fork
And you'll spend your vacation in New York
Rob a bank
Take a truck
You can get here by stealing a buck
This is bliss
It's a lark
Buddy, everyone's coming to New York!
This is hell
This is fate
But now this is your world and it's great
So rejoice
Pop a cork
Buddy, everyone's coming to New York!
No more Yankees
Strike the word from your ears
Spin the roulette
There's no more opera at the Met
This is hell
This is fate
But now this is your world and it's great
So rejoice
Pop a cork
Buddy, everyone's coming to New York!
John Carpenter's song "Everyone's Coming to New York" is a satirical commentary on the glamorization of the Big Apple and its reputation as a land of opportunity. The lyrics present a city that is welcoming to all, regardless of how they get there or what they do once they arrive. The verses are presented as a list of crimes and misdemeanors, including stabbing a priest with a fork, robbing a bank, and stealing a truck, all of which are presented as viable means of getting to the city. The chorus repeats the line "everyone's coming to New York" and encourages listeners to join in the revelry and enjoy what the city has to offer.
The song's blunt and often shocking lyrics can be seen as a critique of the capitalist values that drive the city's economy, presenting a world where anything is possible if you're willing to break the rules. At the same time, however, the song's upbeat melody and catchy rhythm suggest a sense of excitement and possibility that is hard to resist. Ultimately, "Everyone's Coming to New York" is a wry commentary on the contradictions and complexities of modern urban life that can be enjoyed on multiple levels.
Line by Line Meaning
To the cop
With a gun
The Big Apple is plenty of fun
New York City is so lawless and wild that even the cops are armed and it's still a fun place to be.
Stab a priest
With a fork
And you'll spend your vacation in New York
New York is such a dangerous place that even attacking a priest with a fork could get you sent there as punishment.
Rob a bank
Take a truck
You can get here by stealing a buck
New York has a reputation for being a place where people are willing to commit crimes and engage in illegal activities just to get there.
This is bliss
It's a lark
Buddy, everyone's coming to New York!
Despite all the dangers and risks, everyone still wants to go to New York because it's seen as a fun and exciting place to be.
No more Yankees
Strike the word from your ears
Spin the roulette
There's no more opera at the Met
New York is constantly changing and evolving, and even beloved institutions like the Yankees or the opera house can disappear or become irrelevant quickly.
This is hell
This is fate
But now this is your world and it's great
Despite the many challenges and difficulties of living in New York, people still love it and feel like they are part of something special by being there.
So rejoice
Pop a cork
Buddy, everyone's coming to New York!
New York is a place to celebrate and have fun, and everyone should be excited to be there.
Contributed by Matthew C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.