by Dinah Washington · 2024
The song “Manhattan” by Dinah Washington is about a couple delighting in the simple pleasures and romantic adventures they share while exploring the diverse neighborhoods and iconic spots of New York City, finding joy and love amidst the city’s hustle and bustle.
This song has been Shazamed over 97,788 times. As of this writing, Manhattan is ranked 195
‘Manhattan’ by Dinah Washington is a classic jazz song that paints a picture of two people exploring New York City together, turning ordinary moments into something magical. We’ll explore how the lyrics use playful imagery and city scenes to capture hope, romance, and imagination. ⬇️
The song creates a dreamy, whimsical mood, inviting us to wander through the bustling streets hand-in-hand with the singer. Its narrative is less about the city itself and more about the transformative power of love in even the busiest of places.
The chorus—“We’ll turn Manhattan into an isle of joy”—is the beating heart of the song, swelling with promise and wide-eyed wonder. It’s as if we’re invited to witness a secret: that happiness isn’t hidden in fancy dinners or grand gestures, but in shared subway rides and zoo visits. With each repetition, we feel the couple’s determination to carve out their own paradise amid the chaos, as if joy were a stubborn weed sprouting between city cracks.
In the verses, the city comes alive with quirky, vivid detail—“The subway charms us so,” “Sweet pushcarts gently gliding by,” “Eat baloney on a roll”—every line a snapshot from a love story written on concrete and neon lights. There’s a sly wink in lines like “starve together, dear, in Childs,” where even hardship turns romantic, and a playful jab at high society with “hope it closes someday” about a Broadway show. Through these images, the song insists that it’s not luxury, but laughter and togetherness, that make memories sparkle against the city’s clamor.
At its core, “Manhattan” isn’t just a love letter to New York—it’s a blueprint for finding magic in mundane moments, proof that a city’s noise can’t drown out two hearts in sync, nor can routine suffocate the thrill of new adventure. Every corner becomes a stage, every street a shared secret, as the couple transforms the everyday into the extraordinary.
Dinah Washington’s “Manhattan” reminds us that love’s true genius lies in making the ordinary shimmer, turning sidewalks into dance floors and hot dog stands into palaces with nothing more than a smile and a hand to hold.
Writer(s) of Manhattan:
