Empire State of Mind
JAY Z Lyrics

Yea, yea I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
I used to live in Brooklyn, but now I live in a wealthier area called Tribeca.

Right next to DeNiro, but I'll be hood forever
I live near the famous actor Robert DeNiro, but I'll always stay true to my roots.

I'm the new Sinatra, and, since I made it here
I see myself as the new Frank Sinatra, and achieving success in New York City means I can succeed anywhere.

I can make it anywhere, yea, they love me everywhere
I've accomplished so much that I know I can be successful and loved anywhere I go.

I used to cop in Harlem, All of my Dominicano's right there up on Broadway, Pull me back to that McDonald's, took it to my stashbox, 560 State St.
I used to buy drugs in Harlem, and my Dominican friends would hang out on Broadway. I once hid my drugs in a McDonald's, and now I live in a luxurious apartment complex called 560 State St.

Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons wippin' pastry's
You might find me in the kitchen cooking and baking like the famous chef Emeril Lagasse.

Cruisin' down 8th St., off white Lexus, Drivin' so slow, but BK is from Texas
I'm driving down 8th street in my off-white Lexus, even though I'm from Brooklyn, I have a connection to Texas.

Me, I'm out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie, Now I live on Billboard and I brought my boys with me
I'm from Bed-Stuy, the same place where the famous rapper Notorious B.I.G. grew up, but now I'm successful and have brought my friends with me.

Say whattup to Ty-Ty, still sippin' Mai Tai's, Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
Shout out to my friend Ty-Ty, who I still hang out with and drink Mai Tai's. I also sit courtside at New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets games and get high fives from the players.

Nigga I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee, Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from
I dress like Spike Lee and could potentially argue with a basketball referee. You can tell from my attitude that I am definitely from New York City.

In New York, Concrete jungle where dreams are made of, There's nothin' 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 York
New York City is a place where dreams are made and there's nothing you can't do. Being in the city will make you feel as if you're starting a new life, the city is so vast and inspiring. So, let's give it up for New York City.

Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game, Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous then a Yankee can
You might find me at Yankee Stadium with my friend OG. I've even made the Yankee baseball cap more famous than the baseball team themselves.

You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though, But I got a gang of niggas walkin' with my clique though
I'm a fan of the New York Yankees (who wear blue), but I'm not a Crip gang member. However, I still have a group of friends who are loyal to me.

Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock, Afrika Bambataa shit, home of the hip-hop
New York City is a diverse place where cultures come together, but it's also a place where drugs are being sold. This is the birthplace of hip-hop music by the legendary artist, Afrika Bambataa.

Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back, For foreigners, it ain't for, they act like they forgot how to act
In New York City, there are different types of taxis, and if you want a ride, yell out and one will pick you up. For people who are not used to the city, they sometimes act inappropriately.

Eight million stories, out there in it naked, City is a pity, half of y'all won't make it, Me, I got a plug, Special Ed 'I Got It Made', If Jesus payin' Lebron, I'm payin' Dwayne Wade
There are eight million stories in New York City, and it can be a harsh place, with only half of the people surviving. However, I have connections and am successful, so I'm paying basketball player Dwayne Wade, just as Jesus would pay LeBron James. The rapper Special Ed's song, 'I Got It Made', represents my current situation.

Three dice cee-lo, three card monte, Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
In New York City, we might play games like 'cee-lo' or 'three card monte'. We also celebrate Labor Day with a big parade. Let's also remember and pay respect to the late musician Bob Marley.

Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade, Long live the King yo, I'm from the Empire St. that's
Let's appreciate and honor the Statue of Liberty and remember the World Trade Center. As a tribute to the rapper Notorious B.I.G., who also referred to himself as the 'King of New York', I want to keep his memory alive. I'm from the Empire State, which is New York State.

Lights is blinding, girls need blinders, So they can step out of bounds quick, the sidelines is, Lined with casualties, who sip to life casually, Then gradually become worse, don't bite the apple, Eve
The bright lights in New York City can be blinding, and girls need sunglasses to step outside where things can quickly get out of control. The sidelines are full of people who casually sip their drinks and later fall into the trap of addiction. It's like falling for the temptation of the apple, just like Eve did in the Bible.

Caught up in the in-crowd, now you're in style, End of the winter gets cold, en vogue, with your skin out, City of sin, it's a pity on the whim, Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
People can get caught up in the popular crowd and fall into the trap of being trendy. When winter ends, it's fashionable to dress without a lot of clothing on, even if it's still cold outside. New York City can be full of sin, and it's a shame how easy it can be for nice girls to become bad ones.

Mommy took a bus trip, now she got her bust out, Everybody ride her, just like a bus route, Hail Mary to the city, you're a virgin, And Jesus can't save you, life starts when the church end
A mother takes a bus trip and now has become a sex worker. Everyone treats her like a bus, just getting on and off wherever and whenever they need her. Even saying a prayer to Mary, the mother of Jesus, can't save her. Life begins when you leave church in the city.

Came here for school, graduated to the high life, Ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight, MDMA got you feelin' like a champion, The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien
People come to New York City for education but end up living the high life. Athletes and musicians become addicted to the spotlight, and drugs like MDMA can make you feel invincible. The city never sleeps, so sometimes you need to take a sleeping pill to get some rest.

One hand in the air for the big city, Street lights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty, No place in the world that could compare, Put your lighters in the air, everybody say yeah, yeah, Yea, yea
Let's celebrate the big city with one hand in the air. City lights at night are beautiful, and everyone has big dreams. There's no place in the world that compares to New York City. Raise your lighters in the air and say 'yeah, yeah, yea yea' in appreciation of this amazing place.