Frank Sinatra performing New York, New York - gap fill & question answers

Vinnie Falcone takes the baton now to conduct one of the most exciting pieces of music of all my years. This Don Costa arrangement of the Fred Ebb, John Kander love song to the city that never sleeps and the ball team that lost.

Start spreading the news
I'm leaving today
I want to be a part of it
New York, New York

These vagabond shoes
They are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it
New York, New York

I want to wake up in the city
That doesn't sleep
And find I'm king of the hill
Top of the heap

My small town blues
They are melting away
I will make a brand new start of it
In old New York

If I can make it there
I'll make it anywhere
It's up to you
New York, New York

In New York, New York

I want to wake up in a city
That doesn't sleep
And find that I'm number one

Top of the list
Head of the heap
King of the hill

These little town blues
They're all melting away
I'm gonna make a brand new start of it
Back in old New York

And if I can make it there
I know, I'll make it just about anywhere
It's up to you
New York, New York

New York 

Questions and answers:

Q. What does the line 'start spreading the news' mean?
A. Begin telling people.
Q. What does the line 'these vagabond shoes' mean?
A. The person wearing these shoes does not like to stay in one city or town very long.
Q. What does the line 'longing to stray' mean?
A. Wanting to leave.*
Q. What do the lines 'little town blues' and 'small town blues' mean?
A. Sadness about being in a small town, probably because there is not much to do and no opportunity.
Q. What does the line 'melting away' mean?
A. Disappearing.
Q. What does the line 'if I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere' mean?
A. If I can become a success in that place, I will be able to to be successful anyplace.
Q. What does the line 'it's up to you' mean?
A. The decision is yours.
Q. What is the story the song is telling?
A. The song is about a person from a small town who is moving to New York. The person is very happy about moving there, because New York is very different from a small town – New York is an exciting city with lots of opportunity for success.

Click here to return to the video and exercises. 

*The opposite of 'longing to stray' is 'longing to stay,' which means 'wanting to remain.'