If you were here beside me, instead of in New York
If the curve of you was curved on me
I'd tell you that I loved you, before I even knew you
'Cause I loved the simple thought of you

If our hearts are never broken and there's no joy in the mending
There's so much this hurt can teach us both,
And there's distance and there's silence, your words have never left me,
They're the prayer that I say every day

Come on, come out, come here, come here
Come on, come out, come here, come here
Come on, come out, come here, come here
Come on, come out, come here, come here

The lone neon lights and the ache of the ocean
And the fire that was starting to spark
I miss it all, from the love to the lightning
And the lack of it snaps me in two

If you were here beside me, instead of in New York
In the arms you said you'd never leave
I'd tell you that it's simple and it was only ever thus
There is nowhere else that I belong

Come on, come out, come here, come here
Come on, come out, come here, come here
Come on, come out, come here, come here
Come on, come out, come here, come here

The lone neon lights and the ache of the ocean,
And the fire that was starting to spark
I miss it all from the love to the lightning
And the lack of it snaps me in two
Just give me a sign, there's an end with a beginning
To the quiet chaos driving me back
The lone neon lights and the warmth of the ocean
And the fire that was starting to go out


Lyrics submitted by putonyourbathingsuits

New York Lyrics as written by Nathan Connolly Gary Lightbody

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Spirit Music Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

New York song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

11 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    Song Meaning

    I believe this song is about a relationship that involved long distance that didn't work out, and the singer is having a hard time forgetting it. In this particular scenario, the person is in New York, and they maybe tried to continue what they had, but it just couldn't work out due to the distance and possibly the fact this person is focusing on their personal future.. and timing wasn't right. He hopes they may be together in the future, but also accepts that may not happen. To sum it up, Its about the 'the one that could of been, but never was'.

    " I'd tell you that I loved you, before I even knew you Cause I loved the simple thought of you" This in my opinion means that he didn't know he was going to fall in love as hard as he did, and he feels in some way they are meant to be, so if he saw this person again, he'd say that he's always loved them from the start, as he felt he was meant to.

    "If our hearts are never broken and there's no joy in the mending, There's so much this hurt can teach us both, And there's distance and there's silence, your words have never left me, They're the prayer that I say every day" The start of it is explaining how if they never re-connect down the road like he hopes and fall in love again, there is so much that they both can learn from what they experienced. they opened each others eyes to new things from their love. And as this person is distancing themselves and they are growing apart, he will forever hold onto this persons words, because he'll never forget them.

    "The lone neon lights and the ache of the ocean, And the fire that was starting to spark I miss it all, from the love to the lightning, And the lack of it snaps me in two" The part of the ocean shows us that literally the ocean separated the two of them, hence causing the ache (not sure if he actually says ache or 'eke' but either way), and their love was just about to grow into something much deeper before it had to end. He misses the good and the bad from it all, and his heart is breaking without this person.

    At the end, his last line changing to "the fire that was starting to go" means that their love is dying. They couldn't work through the distance.

    I personally connect to this song a lot as I am going through something exactly like this, this is a very sad song of a beautifully tragic love.

    amandaisapandaon June 19, 2015   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    This song can be compared to Jim and Pam off of The Office (not saying this song is based off of that). Basically, Pam has to go to New York for 6 months to take a class, leaving Jim in Scranton. He misses her insanely.

    This song is about actual, literal distance being hurtful in a relationship. The girl is in New York for some reason, and the guy loves her and misses her insanely. His life back wherever he is is meaningless, and lonely. The girl left right when things were starting to get good for them, they were really hitting it off, falling in love (the fire that was starting to spark). He ends the song with "the fire that's starting to go out". This means that the distance between the two of them is causing him to maybe despise her for not being with him. He's falling out of love. This is a very sad/wanting song.

    Gravity450on December 21, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction

    The girl has gone to New York and left him behind.

    [Possible corrections- "nights" and "ache"] "The lone neon (n/l)ights and the ache of the ocean and the fire that was starting to spark I miss it all, from the love to the lightning"

    "If our hearts are never broken THEN there's no joy in the mending THOUGH there's distance and there's silence...."

    [I thought the correct lyrics were "lone neon nights", as in nights in the city by yourself. I think the word is also "ache" instead of heat... it's got a little irish accent on it ("eche") and ache is used in a lot of gL songs.] They had a very passionate relationship and perhaps fought often [love is love... lightning is fighting] and by the end we know the passion is gone [the fire that was starting to go out.]

    Second verse: "IN the arms" instead of "of the arms". I also thought it was "us" instead of "thus" but both make sense...

    [Possible corrections- "and" and "mad"] "Just give me a sign there's an end and a beginning to the quiet chaos driving me mad" He's unsure if the relationship is really over or not... he still loves her and is battling to give up his feelings but cannot. The emotion is expressed perfectly and we get the most accurate decsription of that desperate-wishful feeling ("quiet chaos".) Beautifully written song.

    rowanbearon December 31, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Correction to my last post: the lyrics are "ever thus", not "ever us"... I listened and realized it makes more sense. It also may be "eke of the ocean" instead of "ache"? Can someone with official lyrics and/or a northern irish accent help out?

    What Gary says about the song: "I'm really happy with the words," says Gary. "I always try to write about personal experiences - New York is about a girl I was seeing over there. We both had strong feelings for one another, but we were never in the same place at the same time. It's about missed opportunities. (From the SP website)

    rowanbearon January 15, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I feel that the "if our hearts are never broken/ then there's no joy in the mending" line means that if there is pain from their separation, the day they are together again will bring happiness. The "give me a sign/ there's an end and a beginning" line might mean that with the end of their separation comes the beginning of a new life for them. I have a special connection to this song, since I am in a long distance relationship with someone who lives across the ocean from me, and I am a resident of New York (:

    RunRioton January 23, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "if our hearts are never broken, then there's no joy in the mending. There's so much this hurt can teach us both."

    Falling out of love can be so devastating. Even though its difficult, when you fnd that person that makes you feel okay to love again, to hope and to feel. Thats the "joy in the mending" but you'd never have that euphoric feeling if you never got your heart broken in the first place.

    One of my favorite lines is " I miss it all, from the love to the lightning and the lack of it snaps me in two." This song has touched my soul. With the transparent heartache and longing, but loving message. I love snow patrol!:)

    bbzemeron January 27, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i really hate and love this song. i hate it cause it always reminds me of the one that got away. i love it cause it so beautifully written and sung and the words are so powerful. i'd tell you i loved you before i even knew you, your words have never left me, they're the prayer i say every day, there's and end and a beginning, to the quiet chaos driving me back. some of my all time favorite lyrics

    bar250on February 12, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    A different take...

    I know it's probably a wrong one, but all I can think is that New York is a metaphor for death.

    This song is asking, "please come back"

    Aquarius121on July 28, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I have listened to this song a lot today being it the day my sister leaves for collage in nyc and I tells of love which is something siblings have so I hear it this way of her leaving and my pain

    yelenzzon August 29, 2015   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    I somehow can compare to this song. There is this girl i know for a year now. I never met her before than chatting on skype. But... well. There's sometimes this tension. I can't even explain it. It's just there. And I need her. More than I ever needed someone else. It feels like... she's the love of my life. I think I'm more into it than her. That's alright. It hurts. But it's okay.

    We had a rough past. And it's never gonna be like in the beginning of this year, when I fell for her and I think .. she also fell for me. Now everything changed. We 're fighting almost everyday. About thinks..... I can only shake my head. But there is this pain. Always. This pain is scratching my heart.

    "If our hearts are never broken and there's no joy in the mending There's so much this hurt can teach us both, And there's distance and there's silence, your words have never left me,"

    I kinda still hope... we'll end up somehow -- not together.. but nearer than now. Like good friends. I want her to can count on me and to search my help when she needs it. Distance keeps me away from being there for her everyday, every hour, every second she needs someone to share her tears. But I'm not this person anymore. And every fight, every pain makes me realising this fuckkking shit.

    Well... only her. Still.

    Such a beautiful song.

    Bellejandroon December 04, 2013   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.