Theme from New York, New York – English Lyrics

• By: Frank Sinatra
• Album: Trilogy: Past Present Future

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic journey with Frank Sinatra's "Theme from New York, New York." This timeless classic, filled with aspirational lyrics and a powerful big-band sound, offers a fantastic way to engage with English. You can learn idiomatic expressions related to ambition and success, understand the rhythm and flow of classic American songwriting, and grasp the cultural significance of New York City as a symbol of opportunity. Its clear enunciation and memorable phrases make it an excellent resource for improving listening comprehension and vocabulary, while its evocative storytelling encourages a deeper connection to the English language and its rich cultural narratives.

[English]

Start spreading the news

I'm leaving today

I want to be a part of it

New York, New York

These vagabond shoes

Are longing to stray

Right through the very heart of it

New York, New York

I wanna wake up in a city that doesn't sleep

And find I'm king of the hill

Top of the heap

These little town blues

Are melting away

I'll make a brand new start of it

In old New York

If I can make it there

I'll make it anywhere

It's up to you, New York, New York

New York, New York

New York, New York

I wanna wake up in a city that doesn't sleep

And find I'm A-number-one, top of the list

King of the hill, A-number-one

These little town blues

Are melting away

I'm gonna make a brand new start of it

In old New York

And if I can make it there

I'm gonna make it anywhere

Come on, come through, New York, New York

New York, New York

Key Grammar Structures

• I want to be a part of it

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose (want + to-infinitive)

  ➔ The structure "want + to-infinitive" is used to express desires or intentions. In this line, "want to be" shows the speaker's desire to belong to New York.

• I wanna wake up in a city that doesn't sleep

  ➔ Relative clause with 'that'

  ➔ The relative clause "that doesn't sleep" describes the noun "city". The word "that" functions as a relative pronoun connecting the description to the noun it modifies.

• And find I'm king of the hill, top of the heap

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission of words)

  ➔ This line uses ellipsis by omitting "that I am" after "king of the hill, top of the heap". The complete thought would be "find that I'm king of the hill, top of the heap". Ellipsis is common in informal language and lyrics.

• These little town blues are melting away

  ➔ Present continuous for ongoing change

  ➔ The present continuous "are melting away" describes a gradual change happening at the present time. It shows the speaker's feelings (the blues) slowly disappearing as they anticipate their new life in New York.

• I'll make a brand new start of it

  ➔ Future with 'will' for intentions

  ➔ The future form "I'll make" (I will make) expresses the speaker's determination or intention to start fresh in New York. 'Will' is used here to show a strong decision about the future.

• If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere

  ➔ First conditional

  ➔ This is a first conditional sentence structure: "If + present simple, will + base verb". It expresses a real possibility in the future. The line suggests that succeeding in challenging New York would guarantee success anywhere else.

• It's up to you, New York, New York

  ➔ Fixed expression 'It's up to'

  ➔ The phrase "It's up to you" means that the responsibility or decision belongs to the person or thing mentioned. Here, the speaker is personifying New York as having the power to determine his success.

• I'm gonna make a brand new start of it

  ➔ Future with 'be going to' for intentions

  ➔ The structure "I'm gonna make" (I am going to make) expresses a planned intention about the future. 'Be going to' is used to talk about plans and intentions, often with a sense of determination. Note that "gonna" is informal spoken English for "going to".