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New York

from Mental Photograph by brad byrd

/

about

Some songs take years to write and this one, although fairly simple in appearance, took me close to 10 years to capture lyrically. Perhaps it was my own PTSD from the event that took me a while to form my thoughts around it. Sometimes you don't even know what a song is about until years after it is has been written and recorded, and I'd like to believe that in some way "New York" is about how I felt emotionally when I woke up in a hotel in Phoenix, Arizona and turned the tv on 10 years ago. I had some pretty serious feelings of guilt having just left New York to move to Los Angeles and not being there when it happened. I basically grew up in NYC in my twenties having lived there from college until I was 28. I used to go to bed at night with a direct view out my window of the Twin Towers. To wake up in a foreign city and see this was devastating for me. I was in the process of driving cross country when the attack happened, and a friend was staying at my place in Brooklyn (who took this picture). "Looking back it all seems like a dream" (or rather a nightmare). However, I tried to end the song on an uplifting theme sonically and lyrically "look out your window look what you have got". RIP all victims of 9/11, and terrorist attacks around the world. We shall overcome.

lyrics

In New York you’ll find the lucky ones
What a strange strange tale I know it’s begun
It’s your town but you’re not welcome
Two more miles and you’re in New York
New York
New York New York New York
New York
New York New York New York

Looking back it all seems like a dream
The lights the skyline the city streets
Just up ahead and around the block
Look out your window look what you have got
New York
New York New York New York
New York
New York New York New York
New York

New York
New York

New York
New York New York New York
New York
New York New York New York
New York
New York New York New York
New York New York New York
New York

credits

from Mental Photograph, track released September 11, 2011
Recorded and Produced by:
Steve Scully at Yellowsound, Cambridge, MA.

Mixed by Steve Scully

Mastered by: Fred Kevorkian

Song written and arranged by: Brad Byrd

Drums/percussion: Steve Scully
Guitars: Matt Pynn & Brad Byrd
Bass: Joe Klompus
Keyboards/programming: Steve Scully
Vocals: Brad Byrd & Steve Scully

copyright 2011, Rockport Music Publishing/Elusive Tiger records

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Brad Byrd Los Angeles, California

Indie rock/alt country singer/songwriter/producer/artist

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