Bespoke English Madrid

Artist: LCD Soundsystem
Song: New York, I Love You but You’re Bringing Me Down
Album: Sound of Silver
Released: 2007
Label: DFA Records/Capitol Records

Lyrics:

New York, I Love You
But you’re bringing me down                        to bring down: hacer desaparecer/caer; hundir;                                                                                  abatir

New York, I Love You
But you’re bringing me down

Like a rat in a cage                                         cage: jaula
Pulling minimum wage                                 to pull: estirar           wage: salario

New York, I Love You
But you’re bringing me down

New York, you’re safer
And you’re wasting my time

Our records all show
You are filthy but fine                                    filthy: sucio, asqueroso

But they shuttered your stores                       to shutter: cerrar
When you opened the doors
To the cops who were bored
Once they’d run out of crime                         they’d = they had      to run out of (something):                                                                                                                        quedarse sin (algo)

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

Your mild billionaire mayor’s                          mild: tierno, suave, apacible
Now convinced he’s a king

So the boring collect
I mean all disrespect

In the neighborhood bars
I’d once dreamt I would drink

New York, I Love You
But you’re freaking me out                          to freak (somebody) out: asustar,
                                                                       poner los pelos de punta (a alguien)   

There’s a ton of the twist                              Referencing The Beatle’s “Twist & Shout,”                                                                                               implies that New York still has the culture, 
                                                                       just not the pep and excitement it once had.

But we’re fresh out of shout                        

Like a death in the hall
That you hear through your wall

New York, I Love You
But you’re freaking me out

New York, I Love You
But you’re bringing me down

New York, I Love You
But you’re bringing me down

Like a death of the heart
Jesus, where do I start?

But you’re still the one pool
Where I’d happily drown                                    to drown: ahogarse

And oh.. Take me off your mailing list
For kids that think it still exists
Yes, for those who think it still exists

Maybe I’m wrong
And maybe you’re right
Maybe I’m wrong
And myabe you’re right

Maybe you’re right
Maybe I’m wrong
And just maybe you’re right

And Oh..
Maybe mother told you true
And they’re always be something there for you
And you’ll never be alone

But maybe she’s wrong
And maybe I’m right
And just maybe she’s wrong

Maybe she’s wrong
And maybe I’m right
And if so, here is this song

Valentine told me who’s to go
Feelings he treasured most of all
The teachers and the football stars
It’s in his tiny face
It’s in his scrawny hands
Valentine sold his soul
He’s got something to say
It’s Valentine’s day
The rhythm of the crowd
Benny and Judy down
Valentine sees it all
He’s got something to say
It’s Valentine’s day

Valentine told me how he feels
If all the world were under his heels
Or stumbling through the mall
It’s in his tiny face
It’s in his scrawny hands
Valentine Knows it all
He’s got something to say
It’s Valentine’s day

Valentine, Valentine
Valentine, Valentine
It’s in his scrawny hands
It’s in his icy heart
It’s happening today
Valentine, Valentine
It’s in his scrawny hands
It’s in his icy heart
It’s happening today
Valentine, Valentine

Directors: Indrani and Markus Klinko
Executive Producers: Indrani, Markus Klinko, GK Reid 
Production Designer: GK Reid
Post Production: Double Exposure Studios and the Mill
All photos: Jimmy King


Music video by David Bowie performing Valentine's Day. (c) 2013 ISO Records, under exclusive license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment