New York City
Statler Brothers Lyrics
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Said she hated sport & New Year's Eve
But the truth doesn't wait to come in season
And what we had feared was now believed
She said she'd leave come Monday mornin'
Catch a plane if I'd split the fare
She said she had friends in New York City
She'd look them up and have the baby there
And now she's alone in New York City
Livin' like Lord I wonder how
An angel in hell in New York City
But I can't think about that now
Honey, will you tell him Bible stories
And give him all the love I never could?
But never tell him too much about his daddy
'Cause there's not much to say that's good
He'll have to learn it all from his mother
How to count and say his ABC's
And when you teach him prayers to say at bedtime
Leave out "God bless daddy," won't you please?
And now they're alone in New York City
Livin' like Lord I wonder how
2 angels in hell in New York City
But I can't think about that now
I can't think about that now
The Statler Brothers' song "New York City" tells the story of a pregnant woman leaving her partner and moving to New York, where she gives birth and raises their child alone. The woman comes to him after Christmas and reveals that she is pregnant, but instead of the joyous celebration of a new life, she tells him that she plans to leave on Monday and go to New York City to have the baby. She asks him to split the fare for the flight, but doesn't want him to come with her. She explains that she has friends in the city and that's where she will stay.
The lyrics convey the mixed emotions of the man who is left behind, unable to understand or accept her decision to leave. He struggles with his own feelings of anger, betrayal and sadness, but also wants the best for her and their child. He instructs her to raise the child well, but to leave out "God bless daddy" from their bedtime prayers. The song is bittersweet, with a melancholic tone that reflects the sense of loss and regret that the singer experiences.
This story resonates with many people who have experienced the pain of broken relationships or missed opportunities. The lyrics are evocative and paint a vivid picture of a woman struggling to raise a child alone in a tough city. The song is a testament to the power of music to tell stories that touch the heart and soul of listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
She came to me shortly after Christmas
She approached me soon after Christmas.
Said she hated sport & New Year's Eve
She expressed her dislike for sports and New Year's Eve.
But the truth doesn't wait to come in season
The truth does not wait for a particular season to reveal itself.
And what we had feared was now believed
What we feared has now become a reality.
She said she'd leave come Monday mornin'
She stated she would leave on Monday morning.
Catch a plane if I'd split the fare
She offered to pay half the cost of the plane ticket if I agreed to split the fare.
She said she had friends in New York City
She mentioned having friends in New York City.
She'd look them up and have the baby there
She planned to find her friends in New York City and have the baby there.
And now she's alone in New York City
She is currently by herself in New York City.
Livin' like Lord I wonder how
Living in a way that makes me wonder how.
An angel in hell in New York City
She is like an angel in a place that resembles hell.
But I can't think about that now
But I can't dwell on that at the moment.
Honey, will you tell him Bible stories
Could you please tell him stories from the Bible?
And give him all the love I never could?
And show him all the love that I wasn't able to give?
But never tell him too much about his daddy
But refrain from telling him too many details about his father.
'Cause there's not much to say that's good
Because there isn't much positive to say about him.
He'll have to learn it all from his mother
He will need to learn everything from his mother.
How to count and say his ABC's
Such as counting and reciting the alphabet.
And when you teach him prayers to say at bedtime
Also, when you teach him bedtime prayers.
Leave out "God bless daddy," won't you please?
But leave out the part where he says 'God bless Daddy.'
And now they're alone in New York City
Now the two of them are alone in New York City.
2 angels in hell in New York City
The two of them are like angels in a place that resembles hell.
But I can't think about that now
But I can't dwell on that at the moment.
I can't think about that now
I can't think about that at the moment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: WILLIE JAMES CLARKE, CLARENCE HENRY REID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind