Empire State Of Mind
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah

Yeah, I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
Right next to De Niro, but I'll be hood forever
I'm the new Sinatra, and since I made it here
I can make it anywhere, yeah, they love me everywhere
I used to cop in Harlem, hola, my Dominicanos (dímelo)
Right there up on Broadway, brought me back to that McDonald's
Took it to my stashbox, 560 State Street
Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons whippin' pastry
Cruisin' down 8th St, off-white Lexus
Drivin' so slow, but BK is from 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
Say what up to Ty-Ty, still sippin' Mai Tais
Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
Nigga, I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee (come on, come on, come on)
Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from

In New York (ayy, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
Concrete jungle (yeah) where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (yeah) (okay)
Now you're in New York (ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
These streets will make you feel brand new (new)
Big lights will inspire you (come on) (okay)
Let's hear it for New York (you're welcome, OG) (uh)
New York (yeah), New York (uh) (I made you hot, nigga)

Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game
Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can
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
Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
Afrika Bambataa shit, home of the hip-hop
Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
For foreigners it ain't fair, they act like they forgot how to act
Eight million stories, out there in the 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 Jeezy's payin' Lebron, I'm payin' Dwyane Wade
Three dice Cee-lo, three-card Monte
Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade (come on, come on, come on)
Long live the king, yo, I'm from the Empire State that's

In New York (ayy) (uh, yeah)
Concrete jungle (yeah) where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (that boy good) (okay)
Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
(Welcome to the bright lights, baby)
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you (okay)
Let's hear it for New York (uh)
New York (yeah), New York (uh)

Lights is blinding, girls need blinders
So they can step out of bounds quick, the sidelines is
Lined with casualties, who sip the life casually
Then gradually become worse, don't bite the apple, Eve
Caught up in the in-crowd, now you're in style
Into the winter gets cold, en vogue, with your skin out
City of sin, it's a pity on a whim
Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
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
Came here for school, graduated to the high life
Ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight
MDMA got you feelin' like a champion (come on, come on, come on)
The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien

In New York (ayy, oh) (uh, yeah)
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (okay)
Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you (okay)
Let's hear it for New York (uh)
New York (yeah), New York (uh)

One hand in the air for the big city (uh)
Street lights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty (uh)
No place in the world that could compare (nah)
Put your lighters in the air everybody say
"Yeah, yeah" (come on, come on, come on)
"Yeah, yeah" (I'm from New York)

In New York (uh, yeah) (ohh)
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (okay)
Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you (okay)




Let's hear it for New York (uh)
New York (yeah), New York (uh)

Overall Meaning

The song Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys expresses the pride, hope, and energy that New York City inspires in its residents and visitors alike. The lyrics begin by highlighting the artist's own journey from Brooklyn to Tribeca, becoming one of the greatest rappers of all time and likening himself to Frank Sinatra. The chorus then celebrates the city as a place where dreams are made of, a concrete jungle where anything is possible. The verses go on to touch on various aspects of New York life, from Harlem to Broadway to the melting pot of cultures on its streets, the city's sports teams, and the stories of its residents, whether good or bad. The song ends with a call to put one's hand in the air in solidarity with the city and with the message of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

Yeah
Acknowledgement and emphasis of his upcoming statement


Yeah, I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
Jay-Z has moved from Brooklyn to Tribeca


Right next to De Niro, but I'll be hood forever
Jay-Z will remain grounded in his roots, even though he lives next to De Niro


I'm the new Sinatra, and since I made it here
Jay-Z compares himself to Frank Sinatra and his success in New York


I can make it anywhere, yeah, they love me everywhere
Jay-Z can succeed in any place as he has gained a wide fanbase


I used to cop in Harlem, hola, my Dominicanos (dímelo)
Jay-Z used to purchase drugs in Harlem


Right there up on Broadway, brought me back to that McDonald's
Jay-Z recalls his nostalgia for his time in Harlem, specifically buying food at McDonald's on Broadway


Took it to my stashbox, 560 State Street
Jay-Z used to store his drugs at 560 State Street


Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons whippin' pastry
Jay-Z is cooking in the kitchen like Russell Simmons


Cruisin' down 8th St, off-white Lexus
Jay-Z drives an off-white Lexus down 8th Street


Drivin' so slow, but BK is from Texas
Jay-Z drives slowly but still represents Brooklyn, which is very different than Texas


Me, I'm out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie
Jay-Z grew up in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn where The Notorious B.I.G. also lived


Now I live on Billboard and I brought my boys with me
Jay-Z is successful enough to have his name on a billboard and brings his friends with him on his journey


Say what up to Ty-Ty, still sippin' Mai Tais
Jay-Z greets his friend Ty-Ty, who is still drinking Mai Tais


Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
Jay-Z's courtside seats at Knicks and Nets games earn him high fives from players


Nigga, I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee (come on, come on, come on)
Jay-Z is well-dressed like Spike Lee and has enough influence to impact a referee's calls


Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from
Jay-Z's attitude confirms that he is from New York


Concrete jungle (yeah) where dreams are made of
New York's cityscape is compared to a jungle where dreams come true


There's nothin' you can't do (yeah) (okay)
In New York, one can accomplish anything


Now you're in New York (ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
The listener is now in New York


These streets will make you feel brand new (new)
New York's streets offer new and exciting opportunities


Big lights will inspire you (come on) (okay)
The bright lights of the city are motivating and inspiring


Let's hear it for New York (you're welcome, OG) (uh)
An acknowledgement for New York


Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game
Jay-Z goes to Yankee games with someone called OG


Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can
Jay-Z's fame has made the Yankee's hat more popular than the team itself


You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
Jay-Z supports the New York Yankees but he is not a gang member


But I got a gang of niggas walkin' with my clique though
Jay-Z has a group of friends supporting him


Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
New York is a city of diversity where drugs are sold on particular street corners


Afrika Bambataa shit, home of the hip-hop
New York is the birthplace of hip-hop as named by Afrika Bambaataa


Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
New York has many types of taxis and people should hail one to get a ride


For foreigners it ain't fair, they act like they forgot how to act
Foreign people do not know how to act in New York and create problems


Eight million stories, out there in the naked
There are many stories in New York, but they are often told honestly and without pretense


City is a pity, half of y'all won't make it
New York can be a difficult and unforgiving place where many people who come there will face failure


Me, I got a plug, Special Ed, "I Got It Made"
Jay-Z has obtained drug connections from someone called Special Ed


If Jeezy's payin' Lebron, I'm payin' Dwyane Wade
Jay-Z is making sure he gives back to his community by paying Dwyane Wade, while Jeezy pays LeBron


Three dice Cee-lo, three-card Monte
Jay-Z enjoys and is skilled at gambling games like Cee-lo and three-card Monte


Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Jay-Z pays tribute to Bob Marley during a Labor Day parade


Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade (come on, come on, come on)
Jay-Z acknowledges the Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Center


Long live the king, yo, I'm from the Empire State that's
Jay-Z references himself as being the king of New York as an Empire State native


There's nothin' you can't do (that boy good) (okay)
The same line as earlier referencing New York's power and ability


One hand in the air for the big city (uh)
A hand is raised to acknowledge the greatness of New York


Street lights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty (uh)
New York's skyline is captivating and beautiful


No place in the world that could compare (nah)
There is no other place in the world that can compare to New York


Put your lighters in the air everybody say
Jay-Z encourages his fans to raise their lighters and sing along


"Yeah, yeah" (come on, come on, come on)
The crowd responds with enthusiasm


"Yeah, yeah" (I'm from New York)
Jay-Z is from New York


Lights is blinding, girls need blinders
The bright lights of New York can be blinding and overwhelming to people


So they can step out of bounds quick, the sidelines is
The female population steps out of bounds quickly when it comes to the nightlife in New York


Lined with casualties, who sip the life casually
There are many people who become victims of the nightlife and living frivolously in New York


Then gradually become worse, don't bite the apple, Eve
These victims become worse after leading a wild life, and references the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible


Caught up in the in-crowd, now you're in style
People become swept up in the popular crowd and become fashionable


Into the winter gets cold, en vogue, with your skin out
Even in the winter, people are fashionable and wear clothing that exposes their skin


City of sin, it's a pity on a whim
New York is the city of sin where people give in to temptation on a whim


Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
There are many girls who start as good, but end up becoming bad due to the temptation and influence of New York


Mommy took a bus trip, now she got her bust out
A mother took a bus trip and now she is flaunting her assets


Everybody ride her, just like a bus route
People take advantage of the mother just like they take a bus route


"Hail Mary" to the city, you're a virgin
Jay-Z references the Catholic prayer 'Hail Mary' in comparison to the virginity of the city


And Jesus can't save you, life starts when the church end
The city is so corrupt that Jesus cannot save it, and life begins (or ends) with the church


Came here for school, graduated to the high life
Jay-Z relocated to go to school in New York and has now graduated to a luxurious lifestyle


Ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight
The entertainment industry is typically populated with athletes and musicians addicted to fame


MDMA got you feelin' like a champion (come on, come on, come on)
MDMA (ecstasy) gives people the feeling of being a champion or winner


The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien
New York is a city that never sleeps and one might need a sleeping pill such as Ambien to rest




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Alexander William Shuckburgh, Alicia J Augello-Cook, Shawn C Carter, Angela Hunte, Bert Keyes, Sylvia Robinson, Janette Sewell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@theharshtruthoutthere

@@susanarsoniadou To every soul OUT THERE:
All prayers from Righteous SOULS aka Born again Christians, have power. Sinners prayers GOD hears not. Unless we REPENT and born again and LIVE HOLY, GOD hears none of our prayers. Prayers have power, but these must come from Changed hearts.
Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
Psalms 119:155 “Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.”


(Many souls(unsaved souls), believe falsely and pray in vain).
Mankind is filled with UNSAVED SOULS (WICKED SINNERS).
That`s why there`s a calling to REPENTANCE and to BORN AGAIN:
Luke 5:32
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
John 3:7
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.



@apollo2276

Jay Z..

After seeing this information from a freemason himself, I think everyone will soon realise everything is much bigger than what we are led to believe.
YouTube deleted a link I put on over 20 times??

Disgusting they think they have a right to do so????

All part of a secret society who are controlling everything we do. And Jay Z all a part of it. You know what to look for it's in plain site.
Look up Will Jova channel. The video is called - worlds secret religion by Altiyan Childs.

Every single human being that sees this will cry...
Your life and what you think you know about people like Jay Z is a complete lie...
The information will answer all your questions as to what's really going on in the world currently and why. At the same time rip your heart out once you know the truth. But people NEED to know the truth.

Hence why YouTube deleted the link as they are all a part of it. Everyone you have ever looked up to famous wise, is all a part of it.
Fooled?? People have only so far seen the tip of the iceberg unfortunately I can assure you.

Watch the video please people it will change your life.
The world is NOT what you see.



All comments from YouTube:

@chicken

This song honestly is a forever classic and it still sounds fresh today.💖

@EmmanuelBenChaim

True

@Yeetasaurus9-yv4eo

Ugh daddy😂

@SJR-ol4kq

Did you know that, the music was remastered?

@INOTNAOMI

True

@canadiansoviet

Yuh dawg

29 More Replies...

@chicken

Its March 2024, let's see how many legends are listening to this incredible song💖

@Ichibe_goat

Wsg bro me

@tumelomsimango7257

still listening 🎶

@jagathprasantha2527

still

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