New Age is the first track on Tori Amos' 2001 album Strange Little Girls, a… Read Full Bio ↴New Age is the first track on Tori Amos' 2001 album Strange Little Girls, a concept album of songs written by men with either a prominent female perspective or interpreted sonically by Amos as the story of a woman. New Age was originally written and recorded by the band Velvet Underground, and in Amos' version is sung from the perspective of a librarian. Author Neil Gaiman wrote a brief story about this character, and all the others from the album, for Amos' then-current tour book, and eventually published in an anthology of his writings.

New Age
Tori Amos Lyrics

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Waiting for the phone to ring, diamond necklace on my shoulder.
Waiting for the phone to ring, lipstick on my neck and shoulder.
It seems to be my fancy, to make it with Frank and Nancy when,

Over the bridge we go, looking for love...
Over the bridge we go, looking for love...

I'll come running to you, oh, baby if you want me,

I'll...I...ll, I'll come running to you now, baby, if you want me,
I'll...I...I; Looking at my hands today,
Look to me that they're made of ivory.
Had a funny call today, someone died and someone's married.
You know that it's my fancy, to make it with Frank and Nancy when,

Over the bridge they go, looking for love...
Over the bridge we...go, looking for love...
I'll come running to you, now, baby, if you want me,
I'll...I...ll, I'll come running to you, baby, if you want me,
Now-that-I'm-ready...I'll come running to you now, baby, if you want me,
Now-that-I...I'll come running to you, baby, if you want me,
And something's got a hold on me.

It's the beginning of the new age...Oh, I don't know what it was.
It's the beginning of the new age...Can you see and tell for yourself?
Yes, it's the beginning of the new age...

Oh, you little, sick little fox, yes,
It's the beginning of the new age...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tori Amos's song New Age paint a picture of a woman waiting by the phone, donning a diamond necklace and lipstick, hoping for a call from someone she desires. She seems to have a penchant for liaisons with a couple named Frank and Nancy, and they are off on a quest for love over the bridge. The repetition of the phrase "I'll come running to you, now, baby, if you want me" adds to the sense of desperation communicated in the song, as if the singer is willing to do anything to be with someone.

The final section of the song, "It's the beginning of the new age," is a bit of a departure from the earlier themes. It suggests a hopeful tone, that something significant is about to happen. The repeated line "Can you see and tell for yourself?" poses the question to the listener, that perhaps they need to be paying attention to what's going on around them. It is unclear how this section relates to the first part of the song, but it adds an interesting layer to the overall mood of the piece.

Line by Line Meaning

Waiting for the phone to ring, diamond necklace on my shoulder.
I'm ready and waiting for someone special to call me while I'm adorned with beautiful jewelry.

It seems to be my fancy, to make it with Frank and Nancy when, Over the bridge we go, looking for love...
I have a tendency to seek out risky and unconventional relationships with people like Frank and Nancy while we embark on a journey to find love.

I'll come running to you, oh, baby if you want me, I'll...I...ll, I'll come running to you now, baby, if you want me, I'll...I...I; Looking at my hands today, Look to me that they're made of ivory.
I'm willing to drop everything for you and come to your aid when you need me, and I admire the beauty and elegance in my hands.

Had a funny call today, someone died and someone's married. You know that it's my fancy, to make it with Frank and Nancy when, Over the bridge they go, looking for love...
Today, I received some interesting news - someone has passed away, while someone else has gotten married. Despite this, my desire remains to pursue unconventional relationships during my pursuit of love with individuals like Frank and Nancy.

I'll come running to you, now, baby, if you want me, I'll...I...ll, I'll come running to you, baby, if you want me, Now-that-I'm-ready...I'll come running to you now, baby, if you want me, Now-that-I...I'll come running to you, baby, if you want me, And something's got a hold on me.
I'm fully prepared to be there for you and respond immediately if you need me, although I feel that there is an overwhelming force controlling me.

It's the beginning of the new age...Oh, I don't know what it was. It's the beginning of the new age...Can you see and tell for yourself? Yes, it's the beginning of the new age... Oh, you little, sick little fox, yes, It's the beginning of the new age...
A new era has begun, though I'm not exactly sure what it entails. Can you perceive its implications and decipher its meaning for yourself? Yes, it's definitely an exciting and revolutionary time that's finally dawned.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Unison Rights S.L.
Written by: Lou Reed

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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