Autumn in New York – English Lyrics

• By: Billie Holiday

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the heart of New York City through the voice of Billie Holiday. 'Autumn in New York' is more than just a song; it's a poem set to music, full of rich imagery and complex emotions. Learning the sophisticated lyrics can deepen your appreciation for the English language's power to paint pictures and convey nuanced feelings, from the magic of 'first-nighting' to being 'mingled with pain.' It's a masterclass in storytelling through song.

[English]

Autumn in New York

Why does it seem so inviting?

Autumn in New York

It spells the thrill of first-nighting

Glittering crowds

And shimmering clouds

In canyons of steel

They're making me feel

I'm home

It's autumn in New York

That brings the promise of new love

Autumn in New York

Is often mingled with pain

Dreamers with empty hands

May sigh for exotic lands

It's autumn in New York

It's good to live it again

Autumn in New York

The gleaming rooftops at sundown

Autumn in New York

It lifts you up when you're let down

Jaded roués and gay divorces

Who lunch at the Ritz

Will tell you that it's divine

This autumn in New York

Transforms the slums into Mayfair

Autumn in New York

You'll need no castle in Spain

Lovers that bless the dark

On benches in Central Park

Greet autumn in New York

It's good to live it again

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
autumn /ˈɔːtəm/ A2	noun - the season after summer and before winter
invite /ɪnˈvaɪt/ B1	verb - to ask someone to go somewhere or do something adjective - attractive or tempting
thrill /θrɪl/ B2	noun - a feeling of excitement and pleasure
glittering /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/ B2	adjective - shining with a bright reflected light
shimmering /ˈʃɪmərɪŋ/ B2	adjective - shining with a soft, slightly wavering light
canyon /ˈkænjən/ B1	noun - a deep, narrow valley with steep sides
steel /stiːl/ A2	noun - a strong, hard, grey metal
promise /ˈprɒmɪs/ B1	noun - a declaration assuring that one will do something verb - assure someone that one will definitely do something
mingle /ˈmɪŋɡəl/ B2	verb - to mix or combine
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical suffering or discomfort
dreamer /ˈdriːmər/ B1	noun - a person who dreams
exotic /ɪɡˈzɒtɪk/ B2	adjective - originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country
gleaming /ˈɡliːmɪŋ/ B2	adjective - shining brightly, especially with reflected light
rooftop /ˈruːftɒp/ A2	noun - the outer surface of a roof
sundown /ˈsʌndaʊn/ B1	noun - the time in the evening when the sun goes down
jaded /ˈdʒeɪdɪd/ C1	adjective - tired, bored, or lacking enthusiasm, typically after having had too much of something
divorce /dɪˈvɔːs/ B1	noun - the legal dissolution of a marriage verb - to legally end a marriage
slum /slʌm/ B2	noun - a squalid and overcrowded urban street or district inhabited by very poor people.
castle /ˈkɑːsəl/ A2	noun - a large building formerly occupied by a ruler or noble and fortified against attack.

Key Grammar Structures

• Why does it seem so inviting?

  ➔ Subject-Verb Inversion in Questions

  ➔ Uses the auxiliary verb "does" to form a question, inverting the subject "it" and the verb "seem". The use of "so" emphasizes the degree to which something is inviting.

• It spells the thrill of first-nighting

  ➔ Present Simple Tense (figurative use)

  ➔ Uses the present simple tense "spells" to describe what autumn "does" or represents in a general, figurative way. "Spells" means to indicate or bring about something.

• They're making me feel I'm home

  ➔ Present Continuous with a Resultative Meaning, Subjective Feeling

  ➔ "They're making me feel" uses the present continuous to express a current process that is causing a feeling. "I'm home" is a subjective statement of feeling, not necessarily literal.

• That brings the promise of new love

  ➔ Relative Clause (Defining)

  ➔ "That" is a relative pronoun introducing a defining relative clause that provides essential information about what autumn in New York does. The clause "that brings the promise of new love" defines which autumn the speaker is talking about.

• Is often mingled with pain

  ➔ Passive Voice

  ➔ "Is mingled" is the passive form of the verb "mingle", indicating that autumn in New York is acted upon, rather than acting. This emphasizes the state of autumn being combined with pain.

• Will tell you that it's divine

  ➔ Future Simple Tense, Indirect Speech (that-clause)

  ➔ "Will tell" uses the future simple tense to indicate a future action. "That it's divine" is an example of indirect speech, where the original statement is reported using the conjunction "that".

• Transforms the slums into Mayfair

  ➔ Present Simple Tense (Descriptive/General Truth)

  ➔ The present simple tense "transforms" describes a general truth or characteristic of autumn in New York - its ability to improve even the poorest areas.

• You'll need no castle in Spain

  ➔ Future Simple Tense (with contraction), Idiomatic Expression

  ➔ "You'll need" uses the future simple tense with a contraction. "Castle in Spain" is an idiom meaning an unrealistic dream or fantasy. The sentence suggests that autumn in New York provides enough satisfaction that one doesn't need to dream of unrealistic things.