“New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down” by LCD Soundsystem

 

This song is by LCD Soundsystem and appears on the album Sound of Silver (2007). LCD Soundsystem is an American rock band formed in 2002 in Brooklyn, New York. James Murphy is the lead musician and the co-founder of DFA records. LCD Soundsystem is both signed to DFA and Columbia Records.

On February 8, 2011, LCD Soundsystem announced that they would be playing their last show on April 2 at Madison Square Garden in NYC. There were widespread problems with ticket availability and online ordering. Once tickets were sold, LCD Soundsystem revealed that they would be playing four warm-up shows at Terminal 5. The setlists were almost identical to the final show at Madison Square Garden. Their final song performed at the farewell show was “New York, I Love You but You’re Bringing Me Down.”

 

New York, I love you

But you’re bringing me down

New York, I love you

But you’re bringing me down

Murphy begins his song with these lyrics, which is also the title of the song. This chorus of the song displays Murphy’s love-hate relationship with New York, a place he spent a lot of time in since he was raised in Jersey. There is a central theme of contradiction. He constantly emphasizes how he loves something that is destructive to one’s own self.

Like a rat in a cage

Pulling minimum wage

Living in the city is costly- those earning minimum wages struggle to pay for rent. Many take on multiple jobs to survive. Activists have protested for higher wages and a workers union in the fast food industry.

 

New York, you’re safer

And you’re wasting my time

Our records all show

You were filthy but fine

But they shuttered your stores

When you opened the doors

New York no longer feels like the home Murphy once had. He has grown sick of the place and is struggling to decide whether to leave. He finds the place safe yet boring. He sings about the New York he once loved. Murphy appreciated all of the place’s flaws, but now that they’re gone, so is the excitement in living there. The last two lines represent how right when a new store opens, it shuts down. This could also mean that NYC shuts down ideas before they even take off. It could also represent the years Murphy spent trying to get his start. Lastly, this line could also reference gentrification. As wealthy people moved to NYC, rent increased in neighborhoods and several businesses shut down.

 

New York, you’re perfect, oh, please don’t change a thing

Murphy contradicts himself in every phrase. Here he states that NY is seen as the iconic “I love New York.” He purposefully combines themes with the use of multiple tones, both sarcasm and seriousness, emphasizing that this place isn’t that perfect but if it were to change, New York wouldn’t be New York. He cannot tell if it is the place that changed or his own perspective of his home. He constantly reminds us that he has seen a huge transformation in New York personally. He ends the song saying that this may be a place of multiple opportunities, but he just cannot seem to find the good in it. I really enjoy listening to this upbeat song and I feel it has a lot of meaning to it as to how Murphy truly felt about New York and its change over the years.