Elbow - New York Morning Lyrics

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What inspired Guy Garvey to write 'New York Morning'?

   Guy Garvey was inspired by his fascination with New York City and his experience of writing there. He found that being away from home gave him focus and a new perspective. The song was influenced by EB White's 'Here's In New York' and adapted from Garvey's diary entries about a trip to New York with his then-girlfriend, Emma Jane Unsworth.

2. Why was the song initially called 'The City'?

   The song was initially called 'The City,' but the band Elbow changed it due to the implications that name had in their home city of Manchester. In Manchester, the two rival football teams, Manchester United and Manchester City, are commonly referred to as 'United' and 'City.'

3. What does the line 'the modern Rome, where folk are nice to Yoko' refer to?

   This line refers to John Lennon's statement about New York being a place where every nation on Earth is represented, akin to modern-day Rome. Lennon also mentioned that people in New York were kind to Yoko Ono, which was significant for him given the racism Yoko faced in England.

4. How did Yoko Ono respond to being mentioned in the song?

   Yoko Ono responded with an open letter to Elbow, expressing her gratitude for their kind words. She acknowledged that New York had indeed been kind to her and that it was a city John Lennon always wanted to live in. She also shared her emotional connection to the time they spent in New York.

5. What is the significance of the lyric 'Everybody owns the Great Idea, and it feels like there's a big one round the corner'?

   This lyric is rooted in Ralph Waldo Emerson's concept of the immediate resonance of universal truths. Garvey loves the idea that New York, a place where people are forced to mix and work together, is fertile ground for the emergence of great ideas and universal truths.

6. What does Garvey mean by 'New York can talk'?

   In the song, 'New York can talk' symbolizes the bustling, vibrant life of the city, where myriad voices and ideas converge. According to Garvey, within all the conversations and dynamic interactions of the city, there lies the answers to many questions.