Opening title of their 2004 album Around The Sun, Leaving New York was written by R.E.M.’s frontman Michael Stipe while in a plane above the city, as a tribute to NYC and its beauty. I completely love the song (could you tell…?;)), have been a R.E.M. fan for years now, always under the soothing charm of their harmonic, gentle , emotional and energetic approach to music (and life…).
So here’s the Leaving New York video, + lyrics.
Wonderful bit, the I told you, forever, I love you, forever, I told you, I love you, I love you, forever… Something I’d love to say to some(one or place(s), and add, “No matter what”)
It’s quiet now, and what it brings is everything comes calling back, a brilliant night, I’m still awake, I looked ahead, I’m sure I saw you there. You don’t need me to tell you now that nothing can compare, you might have laughed if I told you, you might have hidden a frown, you might have succeeded in changing me, I might have been turned around. It’s easier to leave than to be left behind, leaving was never my proud, leaving New York, never easy, I saw the light fading out. Now life is sweet, and what it brings I tried to take, but loneliness it wears me out, it lies in way and all not lost, still, in my eyes, the shadow of necklace across your thigh… I might’ve lived my life in a dream, but I swear this is real. Memory fuses and shatters like glass. Mercurial future, forget the past, it’s you, it’s what I feel. You might have laughed if I told you (it’s pulling me apart), you might have hidden a frown (change), you might have succeeded in changing me (it’s pulling me apart), I might have been turned around (change). It’s easier to leave than to be left behind (it’s pulling me apart), leaving was never my proud (change), leaving New York, never easy (it’s pulling me apart), I saw the light fading out, you find it in your heart, it’s pulling me apart, you find it in your heart, change. I told you, forever, I love you, forever, I told you, I love you, I love you, forever, I told you, forever, you never, you never, you told me forever, you might have laughed if I told you, you might have hidden the frown, you might have succeeded in changing me, I might have been turned around
It’s easier to leave than to be left behind (it’s pulling me apart), leaving was never my proud (change), leaving New York never easy (it’s pulling me apart), I saw the life fading out (change), leaving New York, never easy (it’s pulling me apart), I saw the light fading out (change), leaving New York never easy (it’s pulling me apart), I saw the life fading out (change)
