Hear David Crosby Honor New York in New Song ‘The City’
David Crosby unveiled his latest song, “The City,” inspired by his experiences on the streets of Manhattan. The song will appear on Crosby’s forthcoming Lighthouse album, which arrives this October.
Lighthouse is produced by Michael League, known for his work in the jazz group Snarky Puppy, and League furnished Crosby with the concept for “The City.” “He said he wanted to write a song about ‘New York as a woman,'” Crosby told NPR.”I said, ‘Got it.'”
The singer has a longstanding relationship with New York. “I lived there as a young hippie boy working in the Village,” Crosby remembered. “It’s tough and it’s not an easy way to go, but it’s an energy vortex you can’t beat. I’ve spent quite a bit of time on the street there. I’ve been back every year of my life since then, and I’m 75, so I’ve been there a lot.
“I think seeing the city as a woman is an interesting way to look at it,” he added.
The resulting track relies on the acoustic strums and multi-tracked harmonies that have long defined Crosby’s recordings. “Beauty by day, danger by night, ain’t it a bitch to see?” he sings. “The only city I could ever really love takes the time to step on people like me.”
“It’s a tough city,” Crosby reiterated. “It’s not a retirement village. You’d better have your dukes up and your eyes open if you want to exist in New York.”
Lighthouse hits shelves on October 21st.