Lucinda Williams is back this June with her 15th studio album, Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart, her first since 2020’s Good Souls Better Angels.
Williams suffered a stroke in late 2020, something she kept out of the press for six months, but she regained her motor skills over time and was able to resume touring late the following year.
The song titles on this album suggest Williams took that brush with mortality to heart. The album opens with ‘Let’s Get the Band Back Together’ and ends with ‘Never Gonna Fade Away,’ signs that the 70-year-old Williams plans to fight against the dying of the light.
An album like this from a septuagenarian makes me think about Bruce Springsteen, who I recently saw in concert performing with a passion and ferocity that would be impressive for somebody half his age.
Fittingly, Springsteen and wife Patti Scialfa show up on a couple of tracks on Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart, including today’s featured song. ‘New York Comeback’ finds Williams asking her audience to stick around for a few more tunes before turning their backs on her for good.
The crowd dies down to a silent hush
And everyone heads for the doors
Everybody wants to beat the rush
There’s nothing left to see anymore
They think it’s all over but the cryin’
And the story’s already been told
The writers have to hit their deadline but maybe something will unfold
[Chorus]
You wouldn’t want to miss
You wouldn’t want to miss
You wouldn’t want to miss
My New York Comeback (My New York Comeback)
My New York Comeback (My New York Comeback)
My New York Comeback (My New York Comeback)
[Verse 2]
Before they cut the house lights
Before you walk into the night
Before you head out to last call for that last stiff highball
Let me have the final say
One last chance to do it my way
One last shot, one last swing one final song to sing
[Chorus]
You wouldn’t want to miss
You wouldn’t want to miss
You wouldn’t want to miss
My New York Comeback (My New York Comeback)
My New York Comeback (My New York Comeback)
My New York Comeback (My New York Comeback)
[Verse 3]
No one’s brought the curtain down
Maybe you should stick around
Until the stage goes black
Maybe there’s one last twist
Two outs nobody on base
We’re down to the last strike
You could hear a pin drop in this place
Hoping for miracle tonight
[Chorus]
You wouldn’t want to miss
You wouldn’t want to miss
You wouldn’t want to miss
My New York Comeback (My New York Comeback)
My New York Comeback (My New York Comeback)
My New York Comeback (My New York Comeback)
My New York Comeback
[Outro]
Sha-na-na-na (Uh-huh)
Sha-na-na-na (Uh-huh)
Sha-na-na-na (Uh-huh)
Sha-na-na-na (Uh-huh)
Sha-na-na-na (Uh-huh)
Sha-na-na-na (Uh-huh)
Sha-na-na-na (Uh-huh)
Meet Me In Montauk 
Good for Lucinda coming back from a stroke and sounding in fine voice, at least for her. This song has a bit of Bruce Springsteen style to it beyond just the background vocals, especially the outro.