New York City – English Lyrics

• By: Owl City
• Album: Cinematic

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vibrant world of Owl City's "New York City" and let its catchy electronica sounds transport you. This song offers a unique opportunity to experience English through a narrative-driven lyrical style, focusing on a universal coming-of-age story. You'll encounter everyday vocabulary related to travel and personal reflection, making it an engaging way to learn. Its memorable melodies and evocative storytelling make "New York City" a special song that invites you to sing along and expand your English listening skills.

[English]

I'm digging through the glove box

I thought I had a map in here

The driver's door doesn't lock

I bought the car my junior year

There's candy in my backpack

And you can pick our soundtrack

We're heading for the East Coast tonight

So pack your bags and hold on tight

'Cause we're taking off

...

We're taking off

...

Run away with me

We're on the way to New York City

Take my hand and see

Manhattan never looked so pretty

Travel light and see the world right

You'll never know if you never go so

Run away with me

And say hello to New York City

Feet up on the dashboard

We're driving with the windows down

Did you forget your phone cord?

We'll buy one in the next small town

Get dinner at an IHOP

A shower at a truck stop

We'll listen to some Johnny Cash

Take my hand and don't look back

'Cause we're moving on

...

We're moving on

...

Run away with me

We're on the way to New York City

Take my hand and see

Manhattan never looked so pretty

Travel light and see the world right

You'll never know if you never go so

Run away with me

And say hello to New York City

...

Run away

Run away

Run away

Run away

Run away with me

We're on the way to New York City

Take my hand and see

Manhattan never looked so pretty

Travel light and see the world right

You'll never know if you never go so

Run away with me

Stroll the midtown streets

And tell me that you don't feel giddy

Lady Liberty

Ain't throwing us a wink or is she?

Travel light and see the world right

You'll never know if you never go so

Run away with me

And say hello to New York City

...

Say hello to New York City

...

Say hello to New York City

...

Key Grammar Structures

• We're heading for the East Coast tonight

  ➔ Present Continuous for Future Plans

  ➔ The present continuous tense, "are heading", is used here to describe a definite plan or arrangement for the future, indicated by the time expression "tonight".

• You'll never know if you never go so

  ➔ First Conditional with Emphatic Negation

  ➔ This sentence uses the first conditional structure (future simple in the main clause, present simple in the 'if' clause) but with the emphatic negative adverb "never" in both clauses, highlighting a strong condition and consequence.

• Manhattan never looked so pretty

  ➔ "Never" + Past Simple for Emphatic Statement and "so" as an intensifier

  ➔ The adverb "never" combined with the past simple tense ("looked") creates a strong, emphatic statement about something that has not happened before or has not been perceived in a certain way. "So" intensifies the adjective "pretty".

• We'll buy one in the next small town

  ➔ Future Simple ("will") for Spontaneous Decision or Prediction

  ➔ The future simple tense with "will" is used here to express a spontaneous decision made at the moment of speaking, or a prediction about a future action without prior planning.

• Take my hand and don't look back

  ➔ Positive and Negative Imperatives

  ➔ This line uses both a positive imperative ("Take my hand") to give a direct command or instruction, and a negative imperative ("don't look back") to give a direct prohibition.

• And tell me that you don't feel giddy

  ➔ Imperative + "that" clause with a Negative Statement

  ➔ This structure combines an imperative verb ("tell") with a subordinate clause introduced by "that", which contains a negative statement ("you don't feel giddy"). It requests the listener to confirm or deny a feeling.

• Lady Liberty / Ain't throwing us a wink or is she?

  ➔ Colloquial "Ain't" + Present Continuous + Disjunctive Question Tag

  ➔ "Ain't" is a colloquial and non-standard contraction for "isn't", "aren't", "am not". It's used here with the present continuous. The phrase "or is she?" functions as a disjunctive question tag, seeking confirmation or expressing doubt.

• I thought I had a map in here

  ➔ Sequence of Tenses (Past Simple + Past Simple for a Past Thought about a Past Possession)

  ➔ The main verb "thought" is in the past simple, and the verb in the subordinate clause "had" is also in the past simple. This shows a thought in the past about a state or possession that was also in the past relative to the thinking.

• 'Cause we're taking off

  ➔ Present Continuous for an Imminent Action or Action in Progress

  ➔ The present continuous tense, "are taking off", indicates an action that is happening at the moment of speaking or is about to happen very soon, emphasizing immediacy.