Train Station

Old man #1: I don’t know what happened! The other day I was 22 years old. Time really goes by, doesn’t it?
Old man #2: It sure does… I’m 76.
Old man #1: That is good… I hope heaven is nice.

–PATH station, 9th St

Young woman on elevator to friend: I have a date this Thursday with a guy I met on match.com, and I was so excited, but then I remembered Thursday is Grey’s Anatomy! I mean, I’m DVRing it, but that’s so not the same.

–Wall St.

Overheard by: krazyhippie

Large 40‐something woman: But I’m not gonna be on Maury sayin’, “I’m 100% sure!” Because I’m not!

–10th St & FDR

20‐something woman on cell: It’s white, sleeveless…well, you don’t watch Gossip Girl but it’s totally Blair‐worthy.

–W 19th & 5th Ave

Appalled girl to friend: So, I guess he just couldn’t hold it in and needed to share with everyone around him, so he just shouted out “Fuck! I miss Gossip Girl!”

–Mercer & W 3rd

Saucy Latina: Telemundo makes BET look like The History Channel.

–171st St & Broadway

Overheard by: The Low Hat

Guy to friend: My girlfriend is cool if you and your boys are…she loves the BBC when she’s high.

–PATH Station

Overheard by: smjcnj

30‐something woman on cell: Remember season one of The Hills? What a simpler time.

–Columbia University

Overheard by: The Evil Triangle

Boricua: Yo, son, I told you! Birdseed don’t know shit about shit!

–Fordham University

Announcer: The 10:30… Shit, the 11:30 six train to Ronkonkoma is now boarding on track eighteen. Shit…

–LIRR terminal, Penn Station

Eight‐year‐old girl: Mom, look! Mom, they got a nicer elevator than we do! Shit.

–7th & 2nd

Overheard by: BJ

Girl: Awww, all they have is shit!

–NYU dining hall

Loud woman on phone: So, guess what my 18‐month‐old daughter learned to say? ‘Oh, shit.’ And guess who she learned it from? Mommy.

–Bergen Beach‐bound B3 bus

Overheard by: Robert

Veteran on train: You know why America is the best country on earth?
NJ guy: Um, because we got the most stable economy and the greatest people. And because we fight terrorism where the rest of the countries aren’t pulling their weight.
Veteran: Yep, I reckon that’s all true. But I’ll tell you, this week when I was visiting New York, I went to this soup place and ordered macaroni. And this macaroni was white, I mean with white cheese…not yellow. I mean, can you imagine white cheese? You think other countries have white cheese? I mean, in America you can have anything!

–NJ Transit

Overheard by: Horrified

Woman #1: Oooh, child, I know your ass was fucked up from all that drinking!
Woman #2: Hell yeah, you know I was! Shit, I woke up in bed with that mothafuckah again!
Woman #1: Girl, who was it this time?
Woman #2: My fucking husband.
Woman #1: Damn.

–Jay St/Borough Hall train station

Girl to friend: Oh, my God, I think I just left the most embarrassing thing in the bathroom.

–Barnes & Noble

Overheard by: V

Woman to roommate: When we get home, we’ll have embarrassing sexual accidents!

–Pathmark, Massapequa

Overheard by: Are they really accidents if you plan ahead?

Nerdy TA: The thesis talk is kind of like the sex talk. It’s a little embarrassing, no one really wants to give it, but it’ll make you grow as adults.

–Columbia University

Girl to friend: I’m not embarrassed that I peed in his bed. I’m just not.

–Columbia University

Girl on cell: I saw it and I thought, “how embarrassing would it be riding on a bike with a nun.”

–Grand Central

Overheard by: galgal

Mother to child in front of diorama of pilgrims and Native Americans: Well, that’s because the Indians never met real people before.

–Museum of Natural History

Overheard by: Peter R.

Young girl, arriving through train tunnel at Grand Central Station: I wonder if Harriet Tubman is down here.

–Grand Central Station

Airhead: I think like… Colonialization is like… The umbrella theme of, like… Diplomacy.

–Pommes Frites

History teacher, about Andrew Jackson: He tight, he kill mad people, he buggin’.

–High School

Teacher, discussing Thomas Jefferson’s mistress: You see, guys? History is exciting! It’s full of sex!

–High School, Lower Manhattan

Overheard by: SzN31

Man: …and then she’s gon’ ask me, “How was church?” I’m like, get the fuck outta here. How many times have I asked her to go to Goddamn church with me? Every fuckin’ Sunday, I ask that bitch to go to Goddamn church with me. Never! Not once has she come with me, now she wants to ask me, “How was fuckin’ church?”.

–Sephora, 19th & 5th

Overheard by: yassira diggs

Mormon guy: So last time I was here, I was trying to get to Columbia, and I missed my stop and got off in Harlem. And I looked around and thought, “I can’t believe I’m the only white person here!” And sure enough, I was the only white person there. I mean, I was wearing a tie!

–flight into JFK

Woman: Oh boy, you are in trouble girl. Jesus says to come over here right now. Jesus says come over here now!

–Brooklyn Museum

Guy: So I really need your advice. My wife was driving on the LIE, and she had a vision from God telling her to sleep with this other guy, so she did. Well, I finally got her to move back in with me, but now she says I’m full of shit and everything I say is a lie. I really want to work this out with her, you know? 

–Penn Station

God Squad guy: I love all y’all in the name of Jesus, ’cause I got Jesus! I’m blessed, you’re stressed. I’m anointed, you’re disappointed!

–4 train

Overheard by: saltylips

God Squad woman: Here come da Jesus, fire from his mouth!

–1st Avenue L station

Overheard by: Adam Nathan

Girl: Jesus there’s like a restaurant every two feet here.

–46th between 8th & 9th

Man: …come to think about it, my grandfather was in charge of the marshmallow burning during Joan of Arc’s burning, so I guess it’s in my heritage! 

–45th between 8th & 9th

Overheard by: Alex Venguer

Female suit in bathroom stall: Well, are you gonna have those files? (pauses, makes bathroom noises) Okay, well, I need it today. Listen…okay…(pauses, more bathroom noises) Great! (pauses, toilet flushes) No, it’s okay, go ahead. (pauses) Okay, no, I’m really sorry – I’m just entering the subway, that’s what all that noise was. (storms out of the bathroom, doesn’t wash her hands)

–34th St & 9th St

Flustered 50‐something suit: It’s burning! It’s burning!

–Penn Station Bathroom

Man in stall: There should be a law against what’s coming out of me.

–25th St & Park Ave

Overheard by: I agree

Suit in bathroom on cell: Honey, I can’t talk to you right now. (pause) I’m in the bathroom! (pause) I’ve got a fucking dick in my hand! (pause) What do you mean whose dick?

–Restroom, Grand Central

Six‐year‐old kid, finishing at urinal: Shake the weasel!

–Men’s Room, Regal Battery Park City Cinemas

Overheard by: Russ Wall

Guy to friend: I’m sorry. When I see tight shorts I don’t think 80s hair metal.

–23rd St

Conductor: This station is Murray Hill. If you look outside your window and don’t see a platform, then you can’t get off. Sorry. Please walk towards the front of the train.

–LIRR

Overheard by: PW rider

NJ transit conductor: Folks, this is the 5:50 Midtown direct. We are leaving two minutes late because some of your fellow commuters would not board the train. Some people don’t understand you can walk on the train. Sorry for that.

–NJ Transit, Penn Station

Overheard by: Katherine

Extremely Brooklynese conductor: Okay, we’re being held up by another f and…uh…another d. Oh, jeez! Sorry, people, it’s not my fault, blame the fuckin’ dispatcher! (to person in the conducting booth) What?

–F Train

Overheard by: Jasper johnson

Conductor on loudspeaker: Now arriving at Penn Station. Please exit the train promptly. And to those sitting in the first two cars, sorry about the lack of lights and air conditioner. (loudspeaker turns off, after a pause back on). Actually, we’re sorry about everything.

–NJ Transit, Penn Station

Overheard by: brutal commuter