Hobos

Hobo: There’s an earthquake coming! Get up above ground!
Tourist girl: Oh my god! Was he serious?!

–C train platform, Times Square

Overheard by: caiiya

Chick #1: So he just threw his shoes out?!
Chick #2: Yeah, he said he would never dance again.
Hobo: Never dance again!

–St. Mark’s & 2nd Ave

Hobo: Hey, doggie. Come here, doggie. Hey, hey, doggie. Come over here.
Woman, pulling dog away on leash: Come, Mikey! Come on!
Hobo, to passerby: You see that? Fuckin’ racist don’t want me touchin’ her dog ’cause I’m fuckin’ black!
Teen passerby: No, sir, it’s because you are homeless.
Hobo: Oh. Well, yeah. There’s that.

–Clinton & Montague, Brooklyn Heights

Overheard by: Mike N

Hobo: Can I ride that through Cooper Union?
Harley guy: Do you know how to shift?

–Outside Starbucks, near Cooper Union

Overheard by: budgetmoon

Hobo: Fucking shit, asshole!
Lady passerby: Watch your mouth! I know you don’t talk to your mama like that!
Entire crowded platform: Oooh!

–Grand Central

Overheard by: Charlie

Professor hobo: Now listen, folks. You got them crazies preachin’ the end of the world. They’s saying God’s gonna come and un-begat us all the way to Adam. I’m not like that. I’m not. Listen — I’m not — so listen, okay? Listen. See, I’m a man of science. No heavenly undoing here. There’s a black hole comin’ this way. Those niggas comin’ at like a thousand light miles an hour. I don’t need no wheelchair super-talk from my computer to know that. It’ll come and it’ll steal your children. Pull ’em from bed and rape ’em and eat ’em. That’s what them black holes do. Eat you. You and your children. Science!

–7 train

Guy to buddy: It’s just like New York, except it’s clean and quiet… and people are nice.

–51st & Broadway

Tourist girl: You guys, we’re finally here! New York! Sleepless in… Oh my god, I’m such a moron!

–Incoming Air Canada flight, JFK airport

Overheard by: la petite touriste

Hobo to passerby wearing ‘I love NY’ shirt: Try living here for a few months, see how much you fucking love it.

–Chinatown

Pedicab driver to intrigued tourists: It is the most exciting thing you will do in New York City.

–58th & 5th

Overheard by: Stevo

Woman: Sure, in New York something gets blown up every now and then. But at least we don’t have to worry about falling off into the ocean.

–Filene’s Basement

Overheard by: amused tourist

High-strung mom to nanny: Just leave him here and go check. He’s not going to get kidnapped. No one in New York wants kids, anyway.

–C train

Subway preacher: All of you are going to hell because of New York!

–Grand Central

Guy: The nun at work keeps hitting on me!

–Havana Central, 113th & Broadway

Overheard by: Arogpelter

Panhandler: Donations? Give to the church of malt liquor!

–St. Mark’s Pl, between 1st & 2nd St

Overheard by: Hobo Whisperer

Student running through hall: I need my Bible!

–Notre Dame Academy, Staten Island

Overheard by: lol

Woman on cell: Hi, sweetie. I just wanted to call you back, real quick ’cause I’m on my cell, and tell you something else God wanted me to tell you.

–GWB Port Authority

30-ish guido seeing girl with ashes on foreheard: You know, I’ve noticed that the church is making better ashes.

–102nd & Broadway

Overheard by: what does that even mean?!

Manager: Ben! Quit it with the stigmata! We’ve talked about this!

–Strand Bookstore

Overheard by: Duncan Pflaster

Teen boy: We should pray to Josh’s parents so they give us a plasma screen TV.

–A train

Overheard by: Paula

Performing hobo: Ladies and gentlemen, while I do tell jokes, I just want to say that I keep it clean for the family. I don’t like to curse or use foul language at any time. So to those that give money, I thank you, and to those that don’t, go fuck yourself and get the fuck outta my house!

–3 train

Overheard by: Tammy Scumbag

Hobo, just after nine a.m. on a weekday: You’re late! All of you are late to work! All of you… Late, late, late!

–42nd & 8th

Overheard by: jairoski

Hobo shaking cup of coins: Hi, I’m starting a presidential campaign and any contribution would help!

–E Houston, near Mott St

Overheard by: Sannie

Hobo: Good afternoon. Can anyone help me out by sparing some change? [To processed and painted old lady passerby] Girl, you look just like Alexis from Dynasty!

–Spring & Mott

Overheard by: liza

Hobo: I’ll be offended if you call me a crackhead. I’m not a crackead, I’m a rock star. Now, does anyone have 20 dollars for me so I can buy some crack?

–2 train, Bronx

Hyperactive kid is jumping around on benches and talking non-stop.

Hobo to babysitter: Too many pills. That girl is on too many pills!

–81st & 5th

Overheard by: i agree

Hobo holding banana like a gun: Gimme all yo’ money, I’m the banana bandit! [People shuffle by, averting eyes, and hobo gets sad] Nobody listens to the banana bandit…

–Fulton St & Grand Ave

Brunette: Tyra Banks isn’t fat, she just isn’t anorexic like other supermodels.
Blonde: If you’re not anorexic, you’re fat.
Hobo: Amen to that, sister!

–86th & Lex

Overheard by: Charlie