Sedaka wrote his 1959 hit "Oh! Carol" about his then-girlfriend, Carol Klein, later to become Carole King. In 1963, King released a humorous answer entitled "Oh Neil".
The Laughter In the Rain Songfacts says Sedaka's hits dried up when The Beatles arrived, but then he teamed up with the lyricist Philip Cody and had a a number 1 hit with "Laughter In The Rain." It re-ignited Sedaka's career and he had 6 more Top-40 hits in America by 1977.
Sedaka's voice is in the tenor range.
A Lonely Christmas In New York
Neil Sedaka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's Christmas cheer in every traffic light now
But my spirit doesn't seem so bright now
A lonely Christmas in New York
And all the windows seem to shine and glisten
The singers sing those songs
But I won't listen
Your tender touch is all that that I'm missin'
Walking down Fifth Avenue
Dreaming and feeling so blue
I search the crowd
And cry out loud
"My darling where are you?"
But there won't be a happy ending
How long can I go on pretending?
Why should I always be spending?
A lonely Christmas in New York
A lonely Christmas in New York
In Central Park I see your smile
Whenever I walk in the snow
St. Patrick's chimes
They just remind me
How I miss you so
But there won't be a happy ending
How long can I go on pretending?
Why should I always be spending?
A lonely Christmas in New York
It's just a lonely Christmas in New York
The lyrics of Neil Sedaka's A Lonely Christmas in New York depict the harsh reality of spending the holidays alone in a city that's bustling with festive cheer. Despite the snow painting Manhattan white and the Christmas spirit permeating every traffic light, the singer's spirit remains dreary as he struggles to cope with his loneliness on this joyful occasion. He cannot find solace in the carols and festive decorations around him but instead longs for the tender touch of his loved one who's far away.
The stanza wherein Sedaka walks down Fifth Avenue, reminiscing about his beloved who's not there, and cries out to himself is the most poignant of them all. It's a testament to the loneliness he feels, despite being surrounded by a huge crowd. As he continues to search for his true love, he's plagued with the realization that his loneliness won't come to an end. Even the sight of his lover's smile in Central Park seems to add to his despair, as he knows it's unattainable.
A Lonely Christmas in New York is a representation of how the holiday season isn't always a source of unbridled joy for everyone. For many, it's a time of increased sadness and loneliness, and Sedaka captures that feeling perfectly.
Line by Line Meaning
The falling snow paints Manhattan white now
Snow is falling in Manhattan, covering the city with a white blanket.
There's Christmas cheer in every traffic light now
The holiday spirit can be seen in the festive decorations on every traffic light.
But my spirit doesn't seem so bright now
Despite the holiday cheer around him, the singer's own mood is not joyful or excited.
A lonely Christmas in New York
The singer is spending Christmas alone in New York.
And all the windows seem to shine and glisten
The lights and decorations in the windows make them appear to sparkle and shine.
The singers sing those songs
Holiday songs are being performed by singers around the city.
But I won't listen
Despite the music around him, the singer is not interested in hearing it.
Your tender touch is all that that I'm missin'
The singer is longing for the affection of a loved one.
A lonely Christmas in New York
The singer is spending Christmas alone in New York.
Walking down Fifth Avenue
The singer is strolling down the famous avenue in Manhattan.
Dreaming and feeling so blue
The singer is lost in thought, feeling sad or depressed.
I search the crowd
The singer is looking through the crowd of people on the street.
And cry out loud
The singer calls out with emotion or longing.
"My darling where are you?"
The singer is asking their significant other where they are.
But there won't be a happy ending
The singer does not expect a positive outcome to their situation.
How long can I go on pretending?
The singer is tired of pretending to be happy or content.
Why should I always be spending?
The singer questions why they always have to be alone on Christmas.
A lonely Christmas in New York
The singer is spending Christmas alone in New York.
In Central Park I see your smile
The singer reminisces about their significant other's smile in Central Park.
Whenever I walk in the snow
The singer is reminded of their significant other whenever they walk in the snow.
St. Patrick's chimes
The bells of St. Patrick's Cathedral can be heard.
They just remind me
The sound of the chimes evoke memories in the singer.
How I miss you so
The singer is expressing how much they miss their significant other.
But there won't be a happy ending
The singer does not expect a positive outcome to their situation.
How long can I go on pretending?
The singer is tired of pretending to be happy or content.
Why should I always be spending?
The singer questions why they always have to be alone on Christmas.
A lonely Christmas in New York
The singer is spending Christmas alone in New York.
It's just a lonely Christmas in New York
The singer reiterates that they are spending Christmas alone in New York.
Writer(s): NEIL SEDAKA
Contributed by Scarlett F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.