19 Years: The Enduring Power of a New York Anthem

Nineteen years after its release, the 2007 track “New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down” continues to define the complex relationship between residents and the city. James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem wrote the song as the closing track on the album “Sound of Silver.” The lyrics mix spoken word with a slow piano, describing the city’s unaffordability and power-hungry leaders. Murphy sings about working for minimum wage and compares the city to a rat in a cage. The song concludes with a declaration that he would still happily drown in the city’s pool.

Music supervisors frequently select the track for New York City dramas. It appeared in the series “Gossip Girl” and “Succession.” It also featured in the Los Angeles-based show “Nobody Wants This,” where it accompanied a romantic scene. The film “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York” uses the song during a montage of the skyline and busy streets. This sequence introduces John Turturro’s character, an aging criminal adjusting to a society that has moved on. The music sets a tone of attachment to a lifestyle that no longer works.

Dan Wilcox, the film’s music supervisor, described the emotion as nostalgia mixed with fear of change. He noted that New Yorkers of any generation likely share this feeling. The song’s resonance extends beyond the city limits. Scottish singer KT Tunstall and the band The Last Dinner Party have both covered the track. Sharon Van Etten performed the song live in 2018 during a New York-themed edition of BBC Proms in London. She was backed by a full orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall.

Van Etten had lived in Brooklyn for nearly 15 years before that performance. She was preparing to move to Los Angeles at the time. Conductor Jules Buckley suggested the cover, and the weight of the lyrics impacted her during the performance. She recalled trying not to cry while feeling the internal turmoil of saying goodbye to the city. Van Etten noted that her performance differed from Murphy’s. She described her approach as sadder and angsty, reflecting the unspoken decisions she was making about her future.

Van Etten connected with the sentiment that New York is both loved and difficult. She found comfort in the creative community while watching friends struggle to pay rent. She could only afford her apartment by leaving to tour. Her friend Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio told her that civilizations rise and fall, and New York is no different. This perspective helped her accept that scenes and communities change. Malone’s words also inspired her hit song “Seventeen.”

Murphy declined to interview for this story. He appears to reach acceptance in the final lines of the song, acknowledging that the city still exists for others. LCD Soundsystem played the track at their 2011 farewell show at Madison Square Garden. The band reunited in 2015. They will begin their sixth consecutive New York City residency on November 19. Murphy, who opened a Michelin-starred wine bar in Williamsburg, remains tied to his humble origins. Chris DeVille of Stereogum credited the song’s longevity to its continued social commentary.

In “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,” Turturro’s character accepts that his best years and those of the city he loves are over. He does not mourn this truth. Wilcox chose Bobby Short’s rendition of “I Happen to Like New York” to bookend the film. Short sings about liking New York even when facing a funeral bell. The choice suggests that Murphy might one day sing the same sentiment.