Downtown est une chanson pop composée par l'auteur britannique Tony Hatch à la suite de sa première visite à New York. Il souhaitait alors la présenter au groupe The Drifters, mais lorsque la chanteuse Petula Clark écouta la chanson, elle lui proposa d'écrire les paroles pour qu'elles puissent atteindre le même niveau de qualité que la mélodie. La chanson fut enregistrée en 1964 et fut aussitôt un best-seller dans les versions anglaise, française (rebaptisée Dans le temps), italienne et allemande. Elle atteignit le sommet des ventes de disques aux États-Unis (Billboard Hot 100), remporta un Grammy et entra dans le hall des meilleurs Grammys en 2004. Après le 11 septembre 2001, la ville de New York employa la chanson pour ramener les touristes au cœur de la ville.

When you're alone, and life is making you lonely
You can always go
Downtown
When you've got worries, all the noise and the hurry
Seems to help, I know
Downtown
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose?
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go downtown, things'll be great when you're
Downtown, no finer place for sure
Downtown everything's waiting for you
Downtown
Don't hang around and let your problems surround you
There are movie shows
Downtown
Maybe you know some little places to go to
Where they never close
Downtown
Just listen to the rhythm of a gentle bossa nova
You'll be dancing with him too before the night is over
Happy again
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go downtown, where all the lights are bright
Downtown, waiting for you tonight
Downtown, you're gonna be alright now
Downtown, downtown
Downtown
Downtown
And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to
Guide them along
So maybe I'll see you there
We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares
So go downtown, things'll be great when you're
Downtown, don't wait a minute for
Downtown, everything's waiting for you
Downtown, downtown, downtown, downtown