Empire State Of Mind
Jay-Z Feat Alicia Keys Lyrics


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Yea

Yea I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
Right next to DeNiro, but I'll be hood forever
I'm the new Sinatra, and, since I made it here
I can make it anywhere, yea, they love me everywhere
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.
Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons wippin' pastry's
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 whattup to Ty-Ty, still sippin' Mai Tai's
Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
N**** I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee
Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from

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
The lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York,
New York

Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game
S***, I made the Yankee hat more famous then a Yankee can
You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
But I got a gang of n****s walkin' with my clique though
Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
Afrika Bambataa s***, home of the hip-hop
Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
For foreigners it ain't for, they act like they forgot how to act
8 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
Three dice cee-lo, three card monte
Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade
Long live the King yo, I'm from the Empire St. that's

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
The lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York,
New York

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
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 wind
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
The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien

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
The lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York,
New York

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 "yeaaaa, yeaaa, yeaaa, yeaaaa"

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
The lights will inspire you




Let's hear it for New York, New York,
New York

Overall Meaning

The song "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys is an ode to New York City, celebrating its vibrant culture and opportunities. The lyrics describe how the rapper, originally from Brooklyn, has relocated to Tribeca and boasts of rubbing shoulders with famous New Yorkers, such as Robert DeNiro. He sees himself as the new Frank Sinatra and declares that since he has made it in the city, he can make it anywhere else in the world. The song references various neighborhoods, iconic landmarks, and the fashion in the city. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes that New York is a concrete jungle where dreams can come true, and the lights of the city can ignite inspiration.


Moreover, the verses talk about the gritty side of the city, where drug deals and violence can easily plague one's life. The lyrics caution against losing oneself in the in-crowd and the allure of the high life. The song alludes to the melting pot nature of the city, where everyone comes to make something out of themselves, regardless of their background or nationality. It highlights the significance of the city's music scene, from hip-hop to rock, and how it continues to influence the world. The lyrics of the song make it evident that New York is a place of contrasts, where the good and bad exist side by side.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALEXANDER WILLIAM SHUCKBURGH, ALICIA J AUGELLO-COOK, ANGELA HUNTE, BERT KEYES, JANETTE SEWELL, SHAWN C CARTER, SYLVIA ROBINSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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