We sit and watch umbrellas fly
I'm trying to keep my newspaper dry
I hear myself say,
"My boat's leaving now"

so we shake hands and cry
Now I must wave goodbye
Wave goodbye
Wave goodbye
Wave goodbye
Wave goodbye
Wave goodbye
You know
I don't want to cry again
I don't want to cry again
Don't want to say goodbye
I don't want to cry again
I don't want to run away
Don't want to race this pain
I'll never see your face again
Oh but how
How can you say
That I didn't try
You see things in the depths of my eyes
That may love's run dry
No

We leave to their goodbyes
I've come to depend on the look in their eyes
My blood's sweet for pain
The wind and the rain bring back words of a song
And they say: wave goodbye
Wave goodbye
Wave goodbye
Wave goodbye
Wave goodbye
Wave goodbye
But you know

I don't want to fall again
Don't want to look this pain
Don't want another friend
Don't want to try again
Don't want to see you hurt
Don't let me see you hurt
I don't want to cry again
I'll never see your face again
How can you say
That I didn't try
You know I did
You see things in the depths of my eyes
That my love's run dry

So I read to myself:
A chance of a lifetime to see new horizons
On the front page
A black and white picture
Of Manhattan Skyline


Lyrics submitted by Idan

Manhattan Skyline Lyrics as written by Pal Waaktaar Magne (mags) Furuholmen

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Manhattan Skyline song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    I agree with magsimillion, but I often think it's about Norwegians that left Norway in the 1890/1900 for a better future in the States or something along those lines.

    "So I read to myself A chance of a lifetime to see new horizons On the front page A black and white picture of Manhattan skyline"

    Great song and great poetry in its lyrics.

    tormentosaon October 07, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Hey I can't believe there are so few posts on the best A-ha songs! Sure take-one me is fun, but what about classics like this one?

    I can really feel the anger in this song, the passion against injustice and pain in our lives.

    And the lyrics are awesome, check out 'you see things in the depths of my eyes, that my love's run dry'.

    Cool!

    crywolfon November 24, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It's an amazing song all right. Romantic, wrenching, and easily among A-ha's finest (along with "Stay on These Roads" and "The Sun Always Shines on T.V.") When the drums kick in and you realize that that's how it's going to be, you know you made the right call.

    raffishtenant2on October 29, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I love this song because of how the beginning of the song is so light and sad but then it just kicks up! Beautiful to listen to and amazing lyrics! I agree whole heartedly one of A-Ha's best :)

    sarge331on May 17, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I used to be up at Columbia, New York and left after graduation for Oxford leaving a lot of friends behind. I used to have this on a sheet on my wall: the song is basically about a person moving on to another place and basically being hurt by having to say goodbye to all the various loved ones he has had. So much so that he in the chorus gets angry and say he doesnt want to say goodbyes anymore, doesnt want friends anymore, doesnt want to try again with anyone. Sort of along the lines of Billy Joel's Innocent Man (some people stay far away from the door/ if there is a chance of it openning up...) etc.

    maqsimillionon July 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    This song is about the risks of falling in love and the result of a love gone by… The chorus makes me want to shout it loudly, great artists and quite underrated actually.

    PeluCrespinson December 21, 2018   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    When I listen to the lyrics and read along, I can't help but feel that the person/people he is leaving behind are his parents or at least his mother.

    Derfon July 09, 2020   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Basically he went to US to be a tourist but found love. Now he has to go back. And leave her. He sees or thinks back on the paper advert about seeing new horizons. Thats the irony of the song.

    truleighon April 06, 2022   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion

    This song does well because it is a nice balance between softer and more serious sounding parts.

    The darker tone throughout the louder segments (I don't want to cry again) really gives this song a lot of power.

    DMC12on May 25, 2022   Link

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