Leaving New York
R.E.M. Lyrics

It's quiet now and what it brings is everything
The moment is still and peaceful, yet it signifies something monumental

Comes calling back a brilliant night
The memory of a wonderful time floods back

I'm still awake
The singer is unable to sleep despite the late hour

I looked ahead, I'm sure I saw you there
The artist believes they caught a glimpse of someone from their past

You don't need me to tell you now that nothing can compare
The artist acknowledges that their present cannot match the greatness of the past, but the listener already knows this

You might've laughed if I told you
The singer acknowledges that their story might elicit a negative reaction

You might have hidden your frown
The listener may have tried to mask negative emotions in their reaction

You might've succeeded in changing me
The past encounter may have had a profound impact on the artist

I might've been turned around
The events of the past might have caused the artist to question their life

It's easier to leave than to be left behind
The artist feels it is less painful to be the one leaving than the one staying

Leaving was never my proud
Even though the singer prefers to leave, they still feel some regret about departing

Leaving New York never easy
The act of leaving the city is always difficult for the artist, regardless of the circumstances

I saw the light fading out
The brightness of the city is fading away as the singer prepares to leave

Now life is sweet and what it brings I tried to take
The singer is enjoying life now, trying to seize every opportunity

The loneliness it wears me out
The singer is still plagued by feelings of isolation

It lies in wait
Loneliness is always present in the background, waiting to return

And on a loss still in my eyes
Despite moving on, the artist still carries the pain of a past loss

Shatter a necklace across your thigh
A metaphor for breaking something precious, like a relationship

I might've lived my life in a dream, but I swear this is real
The singer realizes that their past may have seemed like a fairy tale, but their current life is authentic

Memory fuses, and shatters like glass
The artist's memories are both fragile and easily broken yet still stay with them

Mercurial future forget the past
The future is uncertain, and it is best to focus on it rather than dwell on the past

But it's you, it's what I feel
Despite trying to move on, the artist still feels a connection to the person they saw in the city

You find it in your heart, it's pulling me apart
The singer believes there is a mutual feeling of longing between them and the person from their past

I told you forever, I love you it's forever
The artist believes their connection with the person they spotted is everlasting

You never
The lyric is left unfinished, implying that there was something left unsaid or unresolved between the singer and the person from their past