written by: Alicia Keys, Al Shuckburgh, Shawn Carter, Jane't Sewell-Ulepic, Angela Hunte, Bert Keyes, Sylvia Robinson
Ooooh, New York!
Ooooh, New York!
Grew up in a town that is famous as a place of movie scenes1
Noise is always loud, there are sirens all around and the streets are mean2
If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere, that's what they say3
Seeing my face in lights or my name on marquees found down on Broadway4
Even if it ain't all it seems, I got a pocketful of dreams
Baby I'm from New York!
Concrete jungle5 where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York!
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Hear it for New York, New York, New Yooork!
On the avenue, there ain't never a curfew, ladies work so hard6
Such a melting pot7 on the corner selling rock8, preachers pray to God
Hail a gypsy cab, takes me down from Harlem to the Brooklyn Bridge
Some will sleep tonight with a hunger for more than an empty fridge9
I'ma make it by any means, I got a pocketful of dreams
Baby I'm from New York!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York!
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New Yooork!
One hand in the air for the big city
Street lights, big dreams, all looking pretty10
No place in the world that can compare
Put your lighters in the air, everybody say
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
52
R&B
Year: 2010
Empire State Of Mind (Part II) Broken Down
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
In New York!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York!
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New Yooork!
Glossed by Katrina Simmons
(1) The idea of New York is being romanticized. New York has been portrayed in several films, plays, books, and songs.
(2) Denotes an area of crime and violence.
It enlightens the listener to the poorer rougher parts of the city and not just the glorified ones people fall in love with.
(3) This line has been taken from the famous song New York, New York that was recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1979.
(4) Along Broadway there are always bright lights and shows being advertised and movies and albums and the celebrities are always displayed.
(5) Concrete Jungle signifies a modern city or urban area with tall buildings towering the city likes trees in a jungle.
(6) The idea of prostitution or working to survive
(7)Many people from all over with varying nationalities come here to try to attain a better way of life.
(8) Rock is slang for drugs, specifically Crack Cocaine
(9) Hunger here can be defined as the yearning of success.
(10) The lights are always shining on your dreams and now all you have to work hard to make them come true.