Sophie Milman is a Russian born jazz vocalist who currently resides in Cana… Read Full Bio ↴Sophie Milman is a Russian born jazz vocalist who currently resides in Canada. After emigrating from Russia in the early 1990s, Sophie spent most of her childhood years in Israel where she listened extensively to jazz. Her self-titled debut album was released to critical acclaim on October 12th, 2004 in Canada via Linus Entertainment. The same album will be released on March 21st, 2006 in the USA on the Koch record label.

Sophie Milman is a student of commerce at the University of Toronto.

Lonely In New York
Sophie Milman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Skyline seems to disappear
When your lonely in New York
Sidewalks don't lead anywhere
When your lonely in New York

Rush hour traffic not a soul around
The echo of your heart beat makes the only sound
Broadway is a dead end street

When your lonely in New York

Rockefeller Center doesn't rock
When your lonely in New York
Central Park just a parking lot
When your lonely in New York

The lady with the torch is your one and only friend
In the city that never sleeps your nightmare never ends
You'd trade Manhattan for a string of beads
When your lonely in New York

Rockefeller Center doesn't rock
When your lonely in New York
Ooh, Central Park just a parking lot
When your lonely in New York

The lady with the torch is your one and only friend
In the city that never sleeps your nightmare never ends
You'd trade Manhattan for a string of beads
When your lonely in New York

I said you'd trade Manhattan for a string of beads
When your lonely in New York

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sophie Milman's song Lonely In New York capture the isolating and alienating experience of feeling lonely in a bustling city like New York. The first two lines of the song express the perception that the skyline and sidewalks no longer have any significance or meaning when the person is engulfed by loneliness. These feelings are further emphasized in the next verse where the poet/narrator comments about the sound of their own heartbeat being the only thing that can be heard amidst the rush hour traffic, which would normally be deafening. Dreams and aspirations of making it big on Broadway are quelled when the person is lonely, and the Lady with the Torch has become their only friend, referring to the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom and hope.

The second half of the song highlights the disconnect between iconic New York landmarks and the loneliness one feels while living there. In Rockefeller Center, a place typically bustling with activity and energy, the person feels nothing but solitude. Similarly, Central Park, a natural beauty in the heart of the city, is nothing but an empty lot when the person feels this way. In the final lines of the song, the singer expresses how deep the loneliness runs by saying that they would "trade Manhattan for a string of beads". This hyperbolic statement shows the desperation and longing for companionship that they are feeling.

Line by Line Meaning

Skyline seems to disappear
When you're feeling lonely in New York, even the towering skyline seems to lose its grandeur and fade away into the background.

Sidewalks don't lead anywhere
The busy sidewalks of New York, which are usually bustling with people and energy, become meaningless and aimless when you're feeling isolated and lonely.

Rush hour traffic not a soul around
Even during rush hour traffic, when it's expected to be chaotic and busy, there's nobody around to talk to or share the experience with, leaving you feeling more alone than ever.

The echo of your heart beat makes the only sound
As you walk alone through the streets, the only sound you hear is your own heartbeat, which seems to echo louder than usual in the eerie silence.

Broadway is a dead end street
The bustling heart of New York's theater district, Broadway, becomes a deserted and lonely place to be when you're feeling isolated and disconnected.

Rockefeller Center doesn't rock
The vibrant and lively Rockefeller Center loses its energy and excitement when you're all alone and unable to enjoy the experience with others.

Central Park just a parking lot
Even the expansive and serene Central Park, which is usually teeming with joggers and families, becomes nothing more than an empty parking lot when you're feeling isolated and alone.

The lady with the torch is your one and only friend
Surrounded by strangers, the Statue of Liberty - the only personification of true freedom in the city - becomes your sole companion during moments of distress and isolation.

In the city that never sleeps your nightmare never ends
In a city that's always alive and buzzing, your feelings of loneliness and isolation never subside and can feel like a never-ending nightmare.

You'd trade Manhattan for a string of beads
Your desperation for connection and companionship is so intense that you'd give up everything you once held valuable, including the grandeur of Manhattan, for a simple strand of beads that could bring you even a bit of comfort.

Contributed by Bella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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