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 / Sailing Away
Travis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Robert Zimmerman and de Niro
Paris, Texas - end of the world
New York, New York,
good bye girl
And they meet
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.
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.
The lyrics of Travis's song New Amsterdam/Sailing Away can be interpreted in a number of ways, but at the core of it is the idea of a new beginning, starting afresh in a new place. The references to Jean-Michel Basquiat, Francois Truffaut, Robert Zimmerman, and de Niro suggest a connection to the arts and creativity, as these people are all innovators in their respective fields. Paris, Texas is a famous film that deals with themes of loss, isolation, and redemption, and this could be seen as a reflection of the emotional journey that the singer is on.
The song then shifts focus to New York, and the phrase "goodbye girl" suggests that the singer is leaving someone behind. The meeting place could be seen as symbolic of the different sides of New York - Bleecker Street representing the artistic, bohemian side, while Central Park represents a more serene, natural setting. The mention of the sun going down beneath the ground suggests the idea of a cycle ending, but also the possibility of a new beginning. The stranger in the moonlight line is perhaps a reference to the unknown future that lies ahead.
Overall, the song seems to be about the excitement and uncertainty of starting anew, leaving behind old routines and habits and embracing the unknown. The references to art and film suggest that creativity will be a key part of this new beginning, and the contrast between the lively atmosphere of Bleecker Street and the tranquil beauty of Central Park underscores the idea that there are many different paths to take in this new chapter.
Line by Line Meaning
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Francois Truffaut,
The mention of famous artists and filmmakers who have inspired the singer.
Robert Zimmerman and de Niro
The mention of Bob Dylan and Robert De Niro, other artists who have influenced the singer.
Paris, Texas - end of the world
A reference to the film Paris, Texas which deals with themes of loneliness and isolation.
New York, New York,
A reference to the city where the singer currently is.
good bye girl
A farewell to someone important to the singer.
And they meet
Two people, possibly the singer and another individual, come together.
on Bleecker Street
A location in New York City where the two individuals may have met.
or the Park that is Central
Another possible location where the two individuals may have met.
oh no
An exclamation of surprise or dismay.
I watched the sun go down
The singer has been around long enough to witness the setting of the sun.
down down beneath the ground
The sun has set completely and is no longer visible.
and it's a new day,
A new beginning or fresh start, perhaps in reference to the meeting on Bleecker Street or Central Park.
it's a new dawn,
Another metaphorical indication of new beginnings.
in New Amsterdam.
Referring to New York City as a place of rebirth and opportunity.
The stranger in the moonlight,
A reference to a mysterious or unknown figure encountered during the night.
looks stranger in the moonlight
The appearance of the stranger is emphasized or accentuated by the light of the moon.
And we meet
The singer and the aforementioned individual meet again.
on Bleecker Street
Repeating the possible location of the first meeting.
or the Park that is Central
Repeating the alternate possible location of the first meeting.
oh no
Again expressing surprise or dismay.
I watched the sun go down
Repeating the previous line in order to emphasize how things have stayed the same even as the singer's circumstances have changed.
down down beneath the ground
Repeating the previous line to continue the emphasis.
and it's a new day,
Repeating the previous line to show that things may be changing but others remain constant.
it's a new dawn,
Repeating the previous line again to re-emphasize that change is happening.
in New Amsterdam.
Repeating the previous line one final time to conclude the song with the idea of rebirth in New York City.
Contributed by Jasmine K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.