Taylor Swift - Welcome To New York Lyrics (Taylor's Version)

NYC

Lyrics

[Verse 1]

Walkin' through a crowd, the village is aglow

Kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats under coats

Everybody here wanted somethin' more

Searchin' for a sound we hadn't heard before

And it said

[Chorus]

"Welcome to New York, it's been waitin' for you"

Welcome to New York, welcome to New York

Welcome to New York, it's been waitin' for you

Welcome to New York, welcome to New York

It's a new soundtrack, I could dance to this beat, beat forevermorе

The lights are so bright, but they nеver blind me, me

Welcome to New York, it's been waitin' for you

Welcome to New York, welcome to New York

[Verse 2]

When we first dropped our bags on apartment floors

Took our broken hearts, put them in a drawer

Everybody here was someone else before

And you can want who you want

Boys and boys and girls and girls

[Chorus]

Welcome to New York, it's been waitin' for you

Welcome to New York, welcome to New York

Welcome to New York, it's been waitin' for you

Welcome to New York, welcome to New York

It's a new soundtrack, I could dance to this beat, beat forevermore

The lights are so bright, but they never blind me, me

Welcome to New York (New York), it's been waitin' for you

Welcome to New York, welcome to New York

[Bridge]

Like any great love, it keeps you guessing

Like any real love, it's ever-changing

Like any true love, it drives you crazy

But you know you wouldn't change anything, anything, anything

[Chorus]

Welcome to New York, it's been waitin' for you

Welcome to New York, welcome to New York

Welcome to New York, it's been waitin' for you

Welcome to New York, welcome to New York

It's a new soundtrack, I could dance to this beat

The lights are so bright, but they never blind me

Welcome to New York, new soundtrack

It's been waitin' for you, welcome to New York

The lights are so bright, but they never blind me

Welcome to New York, so bright, they never blind me

Welcome to New York, welcome to New York

About

"Welcome To New York" is the euphoric opening track of Taylor Swift's groundbreaking pop album 1989. The song serves as a musical manifesto for her transition from Nashville to New York City, and from country roots to shimmering 80s-inspired synth-pop.

Meaning & Themes

The lyrics celebrate the optimism, energy, and freedom of starting over in a new city. Swift captures the feeling of "walking through a crowd" where "everybody here was someone else before," highlighting New York as a place for reinvention. The song is also notable for the line "boys and boys and girls and girls," which was widely praised as a statement of inclusivity and support for the LGBTQ+ community, reflecting the diverse culture of the city.

Q&A

What is the meaning behind 'Welcome To New York'?

The song is an anthem of reinvention and freedom. It celebrates Taylor Swift's move to New York City in 2014, marking her transition from country music to full-blown pop. It captures the electric energy, diversity, and limitless possibilities of the city.

Which album is 'Welcome To New York' on?

It is the opening track of her 2014 album '1989', and subsequently '1989 (Taylor's Version)' released in 2023.

What does the line 'Boys and boys and girls and girls' mean?

This line ('And you can want who you want / Boys and boys and girls and girls') is widely recognized as a statement of LGBTQ+ allyship, reflecting the inclusive and accepting atmosphere Swift found in New York City.

Who wrote 'Welcome To New York'?

The song was co-written by Taylor Swift and Ryan Tedder, the lead singer of OneRepublic.

Is 'Welcome To New York' a cover?

No, it is an original song by Taylor Swift. While there are other famous songs about the city (like Jay-Z's 'Empire State of Mind'), this is a unique composition written specifically for the 1989 album.

Lyrics

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