Empire State of Mind (New York
Jay-Z Feat. Alicia Keys Lyrics

Yeah
Acknowledges the start of the song.

Yeah, I'm up at Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
Explains the artist's journey from Brooklyn to Tribeca.

Right next to DeNiro, but I'll be hood forever
Despite being around celebrities, the artist will never forget his roots.

I'm the new Sinatra and since I made it here
Compares himself to Frank Sinatra and claims that since he succeeded in New York, he can succeed anywhere.

I can make it anywhere, yeah, they love me everywhere
Proclaims his universal appeal and success in various cities.

I used to cop in Harlem, all of my Dominicanos
Recalls memories of buying goods in Harlem from Dominicans.

Right there up on Broadway, brought me back to that McDonald's
Remembers going to a McDonald's in Harlem after shopping on Broadway.

Took it to my stash spot: 560 State Street
Shares where he kept his goods – 560 State Street.

Catch me in the kitchen like the Simmons whippin' pastry
Compares his drug dealing to making pastry with the Simmons family.

Cruising down 8th Street, off-white Lexus
Describes driving down 8th Street in an off-white Lexus.

Driving so slow, but B.K. is from Texas
Despite driving slowly, the artist feels like he's from Texas while living in Brooklyn.

Now I'm up at Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie
Says he now lives in Bedford-Stuyvesant, where Notorious B.I.G. was from.

Now I live on billboard and I brought my boys with me
The artist now lives on a billboard and has his crew with him.

Say what up to Ty Ty, still sippin' Mai Tais
Gives a shoutout to his friend Ty Ty, who's still drinking Mai Tais.

Sittin' courtside Knicks and Nets give me high fives
Mentions sitting courtside at Knicks and Nets games and getting high-fives from players.

Nigga I be spiked out, I can trip a referee
Boasts about his jewelry and attitude and claims he can intimidate a referee.

Tell by my attitude that I most definitely from
Asserts that his attitude clearly shows that he's from New York.

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
Introduces New York City as a place where people come to achieve their dreams.

There's nothing you can't do
Encourages the listener that anything is possible in New York City.

Now you're in New York
Acknowledges that the listener is now in New York City.

These streets will make you feel brand new
Suggests that the energy and vibrancy of New York City can rejuvenate a person.

Big lights will inspire you
Statues that the bright lights of the city can be a source of inspiration.

Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York
Cheers for the city of New York.

I made you hot nigga
Takes credit for making New York City the place to be.

Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game
Declares being at Yankee stadium with an OG or original gangster.

Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can
Boasts about popularizing the Yankees hat more than the team itself.

You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
Clarifies that he's loyal to the Yankees ('bleeds blue') but is not affiliated with the Crips.

But I got a gang of niggas walkin' with my clique though
But he has a lot of people who follow him and support his crew.

Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we selling rock
Introduces New York City as a melting pot with street corners where drugs are being sold.

Afrika Bambaataa shit, home of the hip-hop
Refers to Afrika Bambaataa, the founder of hip-hop, and claims New York City as the home of hip-hop.

Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
Lists different types of cabs and suggests to call out to hail one.

For foreigners it ain't fair they act like they forgot how to add
Suggests that foreign tourists may struggle with addition when dealing with the exchange rate.

Eight million stories out there in the naked
Acknowledges the many stories or experiences in the city that are exposed for everyone to see.

City it's a pity half of y'all won't make it
Suggests that while many go to the city to achieve their dreams, not everyone will make it.

Me I gotta plug Special Ed 'I got it made'
Admits having connections to help his success and quotes a line from a Special Ed song 'I got it made'.

If Jeezy's payin' LeBron, I'm payin' Dwayne Wade
Compares paying for a basketball player like Jeezy paying LeBron James to himself paying for Dwayne Wade.

Three-dice Cee-lo, three-card Monte
Mentions popular New York City gambling games, Cee-lo and three-card Monte.

Labor Day parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Celebrates the Labor Day parade and pays respects to Bob Marley, who lived and recorded in New York City.

Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade
Gives a shoutout to the Statue of Liberty and acknowledges the World Trade Center tragedy.

Long live the king, yo, I'm from the Empire State that's
Salutes to the King of New York and establishes himself as from the Empire State.

One hand in the air for the big city
Encourages listeners to put their hands up for the city.

Street lights, big dreams, all looking pretty
Describes the bright lights and dreams that the city offers.

No place in the world that can compare
Declares that there is no other place like New York City.

Put your lighters in the air, everybody say yeah
Calls for listeners to hold lighters in the air and cheer.

Come on, come
Encourages listeners to join in on the celebration.

Welcome to the bright light
Welcomes listeners to the bright lights of the city.

Lights is blinding, girls need blinders
Acknowledges that the bright lights can be blinding and disorienting for some.

Or they can step out of bounds quick, the sidelines is
Suggests that people can easily get caught up in the city life and go too far.

Lined with casualties who sipping life casually
Points out that some people in the city may be casually living life while others may suffer because of it.

Then gradually become worse, don't bite the apple Eve
Warns against the temptation of indulging in city life and making things worse for yourself.

Caught up in the in-crowd
Acknowledges individuals caught up in a social circle or clique.

Now you're in-style, and in the winter gets cold en vogue with your skin out
Suggests that during winter, people dress fashionably but are vulnerable to the cold.

The city of sin is a pity on a whim
Refers to the city's reputation for vices and how easy it is to fall into them.

Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
Observes that many good girls turn to bad in the city and that the city is full of such examples.

Mommy took a bus trip, now she got her bust out
Shares a story of a woman who took a bus trip to the city and now shows off her wealth.

Everybody ride her, just like a bus route
Suggests that everyone is taking advantage of the woman who's showing off her wealth.

Hail Mary to the city you're a virgin
Compares the city to a virgin that needs to be blessed.

And Jesus can't save you, life starts when the church ends
Suggests that one can only start living life fully after leaving church.