Today’s song of the day is an American jazz-soft-rock song, “New York State of Mind,” by Billy Joel.

Fun Facts:

• Billy Joel, born William Martin Joel, is one of the best-selling music artists of all time with a career spanning nearly six decades.
• “New York State of Mind” was released in 1976 and originally appeared on the album Turnstiles.
• The song was never released as a single, although it quickly became a fan favorite.
• “New York State of Mind” received renewed recognition after Joel played the song in October 2001 at a benefit concert for families of first responders whose lives were lost during the September 11th terrorist attacks.
• He played the song again for another benefit concert in 2012, with funds going to those impacted by the devastating Hurricane Sandy.
• A native New Yorker, Joel said the inspiration for the song came as he was returning home to the city one evening. He was passing by the Hudson River in a Greyhound bus when he felt a moving sense of pride, leading to the creation of the song’s lyrics as soon as he arrived home.
• “New York State of Mind” has three different studio versions.
• The song has been widely covered by an array of music artists, including Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett.

Lyrics:

(Musixmatch)

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 up 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 up 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 mind