Moving To New York

Album: A Guide To Love Loss And Desperation (2007)
Charted: 13
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was originally released in January 2007 in a limited edition vinyl whereupon it was championed by BBC Radio One. A year later it had a full release as the band's third single from their A Guide To Love Loss And Desperation album.
  • The song is about one of front man Matthew Murphy's relationships that went sour. Drummer Dan Haggis explained to the Liverpool Echo January 12, 2007: "It was something to do with a girl he was dating. He bumped into her in a bar and saw her kissing another girl! She was Norwegian and a bit crazy so he said he wanted to move to New York to get away."
  • Matthew Murphy had been experimenting with his songwriting but this was the song that established the skittish pop Wombats sound. He explained to Filter Magazine Spring 2008: "I didn't think anything of it until I really heard it when we practiced it in rehearsal. Dan and Tord kept saying, 'We've got to do this one; it's a hit.' So I don't really listen to my stomach anymore; I just listen to the other guys."
  • Murphy wrote the song after an incident involving a Norwegian girl he had been dating. One evening, she told him she planned to stay home, but later that night, Murphy spotted her at a Liverpool bar. She was "s---faced and making out with someone," he recalled to The Independent. "I got really jealous and wrote that song."

Comments: 3

  • Rahul from Brsivegas, Australiahaha len.... Wombats + skins = my english wet dream, brilliant song and love cass.
    btw they better reveal wether sid and cass get together again
  • Elena from Paradise City, --P.S. I'm feeling a bit lonely, where are all the Wombats fans? =[
  • Elena from Paradise City, --Great song, simple but stunning. The type of song anybody can like just by listening to it once.
    Reminds me of Skins for some reason. Love how you can here his accent through the lyrics ^^,
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Female Singers Of The 90s

Female Singers Of The 90sMusic Quiz

The ladies who ruled the '90s in this quiz.

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"They're Playing My Song

As a songwriter and producer, Narada had hits with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Starship. But what song does he feel had the greatest impact on his career?

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.

Benny Mardones

Benny MardonesSongwriter Interviews

His song "Into The Night" is one of the most-played of all time. For Benny, it took him to hell and back.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.