Where Folk Are Nice to Yoko

I devoted a post to this tack back in 2014 when it came out, but it's truly worth revisiting. "New York Morning" is by a British band called Elbow who I've liked for some time. They have something new shortly due out, but this track filled my headphones this morning, fittingly, as I was striding down Lafayette Street towards my office in Lower Manhattan (I take different routes, when I'm able). I cannot imagine a better tune with which to start one's day.

Back on that earlier post, I included the "proper" video for this song, which is a lovely bit of film all its own, portraying a longterm love story of two native New Yorker music geeks. It's also well worth your time, but is so engrossing that it almost overshadows the song itself, which is a shame.

I'm also quite fond of the lyrics...

The first to pour a simple truth in words
Binds the world in a feeling all familiar
'Cause everybody owns the great ideas
And it feels like there's a big one round the corner

A tenner, up and out into New York
Somewhere in all that talk is all the answers
And oh, my giddy aunt, New York can talk
It's the modern road where folk are nice to Yoko

Every bone of rivet steel, each corner stone an anchor
Jenga jutts and rusty water tower, pillar-posted sign
Every painted lining battered, like a building in this town
Sings a life of proud endeavor and the best that man can be

Me, I see a city and I hear a million voices
Planning, drilling, welding, carrying their fingers to the nub
Reaching down into the ground, stretching up into the sky
Why? Because they can, they did and do so you and I could live together

Oh my God, New York can talk
Somewhere in all that talk is all the answers
Everybody owns the great ideas
And it feels like there's a big one round the corner

Oh my God, New York can talk
Somewhere in all that talk is all the answers
Everybody owns the great ideas
And it feels like there's a big one round the corner

Oh my God, New York can talk
Somewhere in all that talk is all the answers
Everybody owns the great ideas
And it feels like there's a big one round the corner

The desire to part sure symphony
The desire like a distant storm
For love, be good for me
And it feels like there's a big one round the corner

Oh my God, New York, you talk
Somewhere in all that talk is all the answers
Everybody owns the greats ideas
And it feels like there's a big one round the corner

The way the day begins
Decides the shade of everything
But the way it ends depends on if you're home F
or every soul, a pillow at a window, please
In a modern room, where folk are nice to Yoko