Ich war noch niemals in New York

And after dinner he said
Let me quickly go get cigarettes
She called after him: Take the keys with you!
I'll check on the little one in the meantime

He closed the door, went out silently
Into the neon-bright stairwell
It smelled of floor wax and stuffiness

And on the stairs he thought
What if this was a new beginning?
I should just leave
For all time
For all time!

I've never been to New York
I've never been to Hawaii
Never walked through San Francisco in ripped jeans

I've never been to New York
I've never been truly free
To be crazy once and escape all constraints!

And as he stood outside on the street
He realized he had almost everything with him
The passport, the traveler's checks, and some money
Maybe there could be a flight tonight

He could take a taxi there on the corner
Or hitchhike and just go away
The longing in him was awakened again

To be full of dreams once more
To break free from the confinement here!
He thought about his departure
His departure

I've never been to New York
I've never been to Hawaii
Never walked through San Francisco in ripped jeans

I've never been to New York
I've never been truly free
To be crazy once and escape all constraints!

Then he put the cigarettes in his pocket
And went home as if it were natural
Through the stairwell with floor wax and stuffiness
The woman called: Man, where are you?
'Hurry up' is about to start!
She asked: Is everything okay?
No, what could possibly be?

I've never been to New York
I've never been to Hawaii
Never walked through San Francisco in ripped jeans

I've never been to New York
I've never been truly free
To be crazy once and escape all constraints!