Overheard In New York

Archive for the ‘Death’ Category

Wednesday One-liners Are Dead

Girl: Oh my gosh! You know what would be awesome? If lightning struck you, and you like got a permanent tan.

–34th & 8th

Overheard by: Glynnis 

Woman: These invitations are really important! I mean, not only am I turning 40, but it’s a year to the day that I almost died!

–Staples, Union Square

Little girl: Hey Mom, there are dead people here too!

–X1 bus

Irish guy: Oh, what people don’t realize is that the Indians are
everywhere. They’re sprinkled around everywhere.

–First Prince Copy Center, Prince Street

The King of Terrors? I Beg to Differ

Mother, to twelve-year-old daughter: Megan! Get back here!
Four-year-old boy: Mommy, Megan is trying to cross the street cuz she hates you.
Mother, bitterly: No, Megan is trying to cross the street because she wants to get hit by a car.
Four-year-old: If you get hit by a car you’d be dead, then you have to go to the hospital.
Mother, despondent: I don’t think you even understand death.

–Broadway

Can We at Least Agree That Two Whites Don’t Make a Wong?

Highly agitated gay man, bleach-blond, indeterminately biracial: My mother was black! She died in 1999!
Middle aged black woman: Now, wait a second…
Highly agitated gay man: My mother was black and my father was Chinese!
Middle aged black woman: Now, you just don’t worry about them…
Highly agitated gay man: If I’m white, it’s because my black mother was white!
Middle aged black woman: Now you’re just bein’ crazy.

–Prospect Park, Brooklyn

Overheard by: MPW

Wednesday One-liners Bring It

Girl: Like, my grandmother got stabbed with an ice pick by her brother. And then they were estranged for years. 

–Bobst Library, Washington Square South

Don’t They Know They Can’t Jump?

Teen kid #1: Yo white people have too much free time to do stupid shit.
Teen kid #2: Yeah, I know: like jump off 30-story buildings, like those two kids.
Teen kid #1: Yeah, I once saw this white guy who tried to jump over a car and got split in two, like the car was coming at him, and he tried to jump, but it hit him and split him in two pieces right down the middle.
Teen kid #2: For real, you saw that happen?
Teen kid #1: Yeah.
Teen kid #2: Like in person, you saw it happen?
Teen kid #1: Yeah, I saw it happen in person on TV last night.

–5 Train

Overheard by: b

Raise Your Hand If You’re Craving a Burger Now

Hot girl #1: And he said, “I hate that bitch, I wish she’d eat an Aids burger and die!“
Hot girl #2: He said that?
Hot girl #1: Yep, that’s what he says when he’s hating on people: “I wish she’d eat an Aids burger and die.“
Hot girl #2: Well, at least he’s saying what I’m thinking… That’s like when I see an anorexic girl, I’m like, “I just wanna shove a burger down that bitch’s throat.“
Hot girl #1: Oh, well, I’m not thinking that. I’m just like, “I wanna break her bones.”
(they laugh)
Hot girl #1: It’s true! I’m like, “I just wanna blow gently, and watch you blow away.”

–L Train

Overheard by: Eden Twilight

Wednesdays Pray Their One-Liners Don’t Go Condo

Middle-aged woman to others: Just because she’s got her own apartment, she thinks she has it all together.

–Near NYU

Overheard by: Eric

20-something guy to another, about his apartment: All I want to do in my apartment is die.

–Fort Greene, Brooklyn

Overheard by: Dodd Loomis

Woman on cell, walking briskly: There was blood all over the apartment…

–E 9th St b/w 1st & 2nd Ave

Cashier to male shopper: Dude, your apartment is rent-stabilized and you have food stamps? You are so rich!

–Whole Foods, Houston & Bowery

20-something trendy Jonas Brother-looking dude on cell: No, I sleep on the couch that’s in the kitchen. (short pause) I’ll tell you about my apartment later.

–9th Ave b/w 14th & 15th

Overheard by: Dash

Rest in Peace, Wednesday One-liners

Anorexia on cell: Oh, she died? From what?…Oh, that’s horrible. Well, everyone has to die somehow.

–Coffee shop, Madison & 79th

Overheard by: Julz

Cab driver: Are you trying for die, bitch?

–Taxi, Houston & Broadway

Overheard by: Aaron Brumer 

Girl on cell: …and they took me to a psychic and the psychic said I’m, like, dead inside and that I have nothing going for me.

–Broadway & Broome

Guy: I’ll tell you what: I’ll kill myself, you don’t have to bother.

–47th & 5th

Woman on cell: Girl, you know I only gotta do two things: stay black and die. And I’m doing that real well. Staying black, I mean.

–Karavas Place ladies’ room, W. 4th Street

Girl: Oh, so I forgot to tell you about my ex who died last year. He drowned…this is a good story.

–World Financial Center