Manhattan

Album: The Blessed Unrest (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • When Sara Bareilles moved from Los Angeles to New York she fell in love with the city but was forced to relinquish her boyfriend. She laments on this piano ballad:

    "You can have Manhattan
    'Cause I can't have you,"

    Bareilles describes this conflict between two worlds and the ensuing ending of her long-distance relationship by comparing the sandy beaches of LA with the bustle and buildings of Manhattan. She told VH1: "When I played this song for the folks at the label, they said 'We gotta get this in a Woody Allen film!'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A Timeline

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A TimelineSong Writing

Untangling the events that led to the "Stairway To Heaven" lawsuit.

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Charles Fox

Charles FoxSongwriter Interviews

After studying in Paris with a famous composition teacher, Charles became the most successful writer of TV theme songs.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.