About the Song
New York State of Mind was born from Billy Joel’s deep connection to his hometown, New York City. In the early 1970s, Joel was living in Los Angeles, but the pull of New York remained strong. Amid the city’s struggles with crime, drugs, and financial instability, Joel returned home with the intention of writing an anthem for his beloved city, capturing its gritty charm despite its troubles.
In a 2015 interview with Newsday, Joel reflected on the dark days New York was facing at the time: “There was a lot of crime. Drugs were out of control. The city looked bad; it was really dirty. It almost defaulted, financially.” He felt the city needed a boost, and this inspired him to write a song dedicated to the resilience and energy of New York.
The song came to life quickly, with Joel recalling in a 2010 Howard Stern interview that he wrote the initial lyrics on a Greyhound bus while traveling back to his home in Highland Falls, New York. “It’s the one I wrote in like 15 minutes,” he said. “I got to the house where my wife was waiting. I said, ‘I got to write this song right now.’”
New York State of Mind
Over the years, the song has taken on various meanings. Following the September 11 attacks, it became an emotional anthem of patriotism and resilience. Joel performed it at The Concert for New York City telethon, and the song was transformed into a heartfelt, slower blues version. “Everybody was just about in tears trying to get through the song,” he recalled, emphasizing the emotional weight of the performance as he stared at a fireman’s helmet on the piano, remembering the heroes of that day.
Though New York State of Mind was never released as a single, it became one of Billy Joel’s most iconic and enduring classics. The song was later re-recorded for Greatest Hits Volume 1 & 2 (1985 and 1997), with the original saxophone solo replaced by a new one, showcasing different versions of the iconic instrument. The song remains a timeless tribute to the city that inspired it.
Lyrics
Some folks like to get away
Take a holiday from the neighborhood
Hop a flight to Miami Beach
Or to Hollywood
But I’m taking a Greyhound
On the Hudson River Line
I’m in a New York state of mind
I’ve seen all the movie stars
In their fancy cars and their limousines
Been high in the Rockies under the evergreens
But I know what I’m needing
And I don’t want to waste more time
I’m in a New York state of mind
It was so easy living day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times, The Daily News
It comes down to reality
And it’s fine with me ’cause I’ve let it slide
Don’t care if it’s Chinatown or on Riverside
I don’t have any reasons
I’ve left them all behind
I’m in a New York state of mind
It was so easy living day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times, The Daily News
It comes down to reality
And it’s fine with me ’cause I’ve let it slide
Don’t care if it’s Chinatown or on Riverside
I don’t have any reasons
I’ve left them all behind
I’m in a New York state of mind
I’m just taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River Line
‘Cause I’m in a New York state of mindAdvertisement
