The band released their debut album, Good Feeling (1997), to moderate success where it debuted at number nine on the UK Albums Chart and was later awarded a silver certification from the BPI in January 2000. The band gained greater success with their second album, The Man Who (1999), which spent nine weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart, totalling 134 weeks in the top 100 of the chart. In 2003, The Man Who was certified 9× platinum by the BPI, representing sales of over 2.68 million in the UK alone. Following this success, the band released their third effort, The Invisible Band (2001) album. The Invisible Band went on to match the success found with their previous album, where it debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and spent a total of four weeks at the top spot, fifteen weeks in the top ten, and a total of fifty-five weeks in the top 100 chart, as well as peaking at thirty-nine on the US Billboard 200 album chart, spending a duration of seven weeks in the Billboard 200 chart. A year following the release of The Invisible Band, the BPI awarded Travis with a 4× platinum certification for the album.
In recent years, the band's discography has included studio albums 12 Memories (2003), The Boy with No Name (2007), Ode to J. Smith (2008), Where You Stand (2013), Everything at Once (2016) and 10 Songs (2020). In 2004, the band released their first greatest hits album, Singles, which spent nineteen weeks in the top 100 of the UK albums chart. Travis have twice been awarded best band at the BRIT Awards and were awarded the NME Artist of the Year award at their 2000 ceremony, and in 2016 were honoured at the Scottish Music Awards for their outstanding contribution to music. The band are widely said by the media to have paved the way for other bands such as Keane and Coldplay to go on to achieve worldwide success throughout the 2000s, particularly with the success of The Man Who.
Craft Recordings celebrated the 20th anniversary of Travis' breakthrough year with two simultaneous releases: Live at Glastonbury '99, plus expanded editions of The Man Who – both of which were released on 21 June 2019.
New Amsterdam
Travis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Good bye girl
And they meet
On Bleecker Street
Or the Park that is Central
Oh no
Down down beneath the ground
And it's a new day,
It's a new dawn,
In New Amsterdam.
The stranger in the moonlight,
Looks stranger in the moonlight
And they meet
On Bleecker Street
Or the Park that is Central
Oh no
I watched the sun go down
Down down beneath the ground
And it's a new day,
It's a new dawn,
In New Amsterdam.
And we meet
On Bleecker Street
Or the Park that is Central
Oh no
I watched the sun go down
Down down beneath the ground
And it's a new day,
It's a new dawn,
In New Amsterdam.
Travis's song New Amsterdam is a celebration of the city of New York and its unique energy. The opening lines "New York, New York, Goodbye girl" convey the idea of leaving something behind in order to experience something new. The singer is saying goodbye to a former life and embarking on a new adventure. The song describes the meeting of two people on the streets of the city - on Bleecker Street or in Central Park. The imagery is vivid and evocative, capturing the sense of excitement and possibility that comes with exploring a new place.
The lines "I watched the sun go down, Down down beneath the ground" suggest a sense of loss - the end of something old. But the chorus offers a message of hope and renewal: "It's a new day, it's a new dawn, in New Amsterdam." The phrase "New Amsterdam" is actually an older name for New York City, that was used by the Dutch settlers who founded the city in the 17th century. By using this older name for the city, Travis is tapping into its rich history and cultural heritage. The repeated mention of Bleecker Street and Central Park also add to this sense of history and continuity, invoking the countless stories of people who have walked those streets before.
Overall, Travis's New Amsterdam is a tribute to the endless possibilities of the city of New York, and to the sense of adventure and renewal that comes with exploration. It's a message of hope and optimism, and a celebration of the rich history and culture of one of the world's most exciting cities.
Line by Line Meaning
New York, New York, Good bye girl
Travis bids goodbye to the city that never sleeps - New York City, and all the memories associated with it.
And they meet On Bleecker Street Or the Park that is Central
Travis describes the two possible locations where lovers could meet - either on Bleecker street or in Central Park. Both hold a lot of romantic significance.
Oh no I watched the sun go down Down down beneath the ground
Travis watches the sun set and disappear beneath the horizon. The darkness of the coming night seems to represent the end of something special.
And it's a new day, It's a new dawn, In New Amsterdam.
However, a new day has begun in his life and he’s looking forward to new beginnings. He personifies this new start by referring to it as a new dawn in New Amsterdam. Amsterdam, being a city of reinvention, is synonymous with new beginnings.
The stranger in the moonlight, Looks stranger in the moonlight
He came to the city as a stranger, and meeting new people in the milieu at night seemed exotic and strange, adding to the different aspects he hoped to experience in this new time of his life.
And we meet On Bleecker Street Or the Park that is Central Oh no
Travis once again mentions the two locations where lovers could meet. However, there is a sense of hesitation in his tone, as if he's unsure what the future holds for him.
I watched the sun go down Down down beneath the ground And it's a new day, It's a new dawn, In New Amsterdam.
The lyrics repeat, emphasizing the new beginning in Travis's life and his eagerness to start fresh, explore new places and people, and leave all the past behind.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FRANCIS HEALY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind