Sting - Englishman In New York Lyrics

Sting Lyrics

"Englishman In New York"

I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear
I like my toast done on one side
And you can hear it in my accent when I talk
I'm an Englishman in New York

See me walking down Fifth Avenue
A walking cane here at my side
I take it everywhere I walk
I'm an Englishman in New York

I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York

If "Manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say

I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York

Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety
You could end up as the only one
Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society
At night a candle's brighter than the sun

Takes more than combat gear to make a man
Takes more than a license for a gun
Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can
A gentleman will walk but never run

If "Manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say
Be yourself no matter what they say
Be yourself no matter what they say
Be yourself no matter what they say
Be yourself no matter what they say...

I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York

I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York

Submit Corrections

Thanks to Johannes, Sebastian_dyrdal for correcting these lyrics.

Writer(s): Gordon Matthew Sumner

Sting said about the song in the liner notes for "...Nothing Like the Sun" album, "I wrote "Englishman in New York for a friend of mine who moved from London to New York in his early seventies to a small rented apartment in the Bowery at a time in his life when most people have settled down forever." The friend he was talking about is author Quentin Crisp.

In 1987, Sting told Musician about musical styles in the song, "It started as a reggae kind of lilt, then I added a bridge that felt classical, so I put the violins and harpsichords on, then we went into a jazz section. I wanted to give the impression of somebody walking down the street, passing different musical events. To sum up what it's like on the street in New York. You pass a shop window and hear different kinds of music in each one."

The music video was directed by David Fincher. Quentin Crisp, whom this song is about, appeared in it.

album: "...Nothing Like The Sun" (1987)

Sting - ...Nothing Like The Sun album cover

Lazarus Heart

Be Still My Beating Heart

Englishman In New York

History Will Teach Us Nothing

Conversation With A Dog

(Reissue Bonus Track)

If You There

(Reissue Bonus Track)

Up From The Skies

(Reissue Bonus Track)

Someone To Watch Over Me

(Reissue Bonus Track)

Ghost In The Strand

(Instrumental)

album: "Symphonicities" (2010)

Next To You

Englishman In New York

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic

I Hung My Head

You Will Be My Ain True Love

We Work The Black Seam

She's Too Good For Me

The Pirate's Bride

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"Englishman In New York" lyrics

Sting Lyrics