☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics are about a person leaving New York and the emotions and experiences associated with it.
- The text expresses a certain melancholy and sadness, but also the desire for change and letting go of something from the past.
- The singer reflects on the silence and calm that leaving New York brings and remembers a special night.
- The chorus emphasizes that it's easier to go than to be left behind, and that leaving New York was never easy.
- The singer describes the loneliness and exhaustion he feels, and expresses the wish that the other person finds in their heart what tears him apart.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song "Leaving New York" by
R.E.M. are about a person leaving New York and the emotions and experiences associated with it. The text expresses a certain melancholy and sadness, but also the desire for change and letting go of something past.
In the first section of the song, the singer reflects on the silence and calm that comes with leaving New York. He remembers a special night when he was still awake and believes to have seen the person he is talking about. He emphasizes that nothing compares to that feeling.
The chorus of the song emphasizes that it's easier to go than to be left behind, and that leaving New York was never easy. However, the singer recognizes that he may have been changed if he had stayed, and that it's hard to leave someone you love.
In the second section of the song, the singer talks about the sweet life and the experiences he has had. However, he feels lonely and exhausted, and feels like he has lost everything. He also describes how he sees the person he is talking about in his eyes, and how a broken necklace pendant rests on her thighs.
The last section of the song expresses the singer's wish that the other person finds in their heart what is tearing him apart. He emphasizes that he will love her forever, but realizes that she doesn't reciprocate that feeling.
In summary, the lyrics of the song "Leaving New York" by R.E.M. are about the difficulties of leaving something beloved, the emotions and experiences associated with it, and the desire for change and letting go. The text also expresses the loneliness and melancholy that can accompany leaving a familiar environment.