Empire State of Mind
Jay-Z feat Alica Keys Lyrics

Yeah
This line signifies affirmation and agreement, expressing enthusiasm and excitement.

Yeah, I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
I have moved from Brooklyn to Tribeca, a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.

Right next to De Niro, but I'll be hood forever
I am located near Robert De Niro, a famous actor, but I will always embrace and represent my roots and upbringing in the hood.

I'm the new Sinatra, and since I made it here
I am compared to Frank Sinatra, a legendary singer, and because I have achieved success in New York City,

I can make it anywhere, yeah, they love me everywhere
I have gained widespread love and admiration, and my success in New York City proves that I can achieve the same anywhere.

I used to cop in Harlem, hola, my Dominicanos (dímelo)
In the past, I used to buy drugs in Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City, while greeting my Dominican friends.

Right there up on Broadway, brought me back to that McDonald's
Being on Broadway reminded me of my humble beginnings, including going back to eating at McDonald's.

Took it to my stashbox, 560 State Street
I brought the drugs I bought to my secret hiding spot at 560 State Street.

Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons whippin' pastry
You can find me in the kitchen, working hard like a member of the Simmons family, preparing and baking pastries.

Cruisin' down 8th St, off-white Lexus
I am driving a luxurious, off-white Lexus down 8th Street.

Drivin' so slow, but BK is from Texas
I am driving slowly, even though people from Brooklyn, where I am from, are known for their fast-paced nature.

Me, I'm out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie
I come from Bedford-Stuyvesant, a neighborhood in Brooklyn known as the home of the late rapper, Notorious B.I.G.

Now I live on Billboard and I brought my boys with me
I am now prominent on the Billboard charts, and I have brought my friends and associates along on this journey of success.

Say what up to Ty-Ty, still sippin' Mai Tais
Give a greeting to my friend Ty-Ty, while we continue to enjoy and drink Mai Tais.

Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
I am seated in the prime courtside seats, enjoying basketball games between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, and receiving high fives from the players.

Nigga, I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee (come on, come on, come on)
I am heavily adorned with Spike Lee's fashion line, and I have the power to make a referee stumble and make a mistake.

Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from
My demeanor and behavior clearly indicate that I am unquestionably from

In New York (ayy, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
I am currently present in New York City, expressing excitement and a sense of realization.

Concrete jungle (yeah) where dreams are made of
New York City is a metaphorical concrete jungle where dreams are born and can become a reality.

There's nothin' you can't do (yeah) (okay)
In New York City, there are endless possibilities, and nothing is beyond reach or impossible to achieve.

Now you're in New York (ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
Now that you have arrived in New York City, you will experience a transformative feeling.

These streets will make you feel brand new (new)
Walking through the streets of New York City will give you a renewed sense of self and rejuvenation.

Big lights will inspire you (come on) (okay)
The grandeur and brightness of the city's lights will motivate and ignite inspiration within you.

Let's hear it for New York (you're welcome, OG) (uh)
Let's give a big round of applause and recognition to New York City, as I acknowledge and welcome its greatness.

New York (yeah), New York (uh) (I made you hot, nigga)
I am proudly representing and acknowledging New York City, as I have played a part in its rise and popularity.

Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game
You will find me at Yankee Stadium with an influential celebrity, watching a baseball game.

Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can
My association and influence have made the Yankee hat more popular and iconic than the baseball team itself.

You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
Although I am a devoted supporter of the New York Yankees (represented by the color blue), I am not affiliated with the Crips gang.

But I got a gang of niggas walkin' with my clique though
However, I have a loyal group of friends who are always by my side and part of my crew.

Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
Welcome to the diverse and multicultural city, where street corners are used as locations for drug dealing.

Afrika Bambataa shit, home of the hip-hop
Referencing Afrika Bambaataa, a pioneer in hip-hop culture, as New York City is the birthplace and center of the hip-hop genre.

Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
Different types of taxis, including official yellow cabs and unlicensed gypsy or dollar cabs, are prevalent in the city. Call out and hail one if needed.

For foreigners it ain't fair, they act like they forgot how to act
Foreigners sometimes struggle to adapt to the city's atmosphere and customs, as their behavior may seem inappropriate or unfamiliar.

Eight million stories, out there in the naked
The city is filled with countless unique stories, experiences, and individuals, exposed and open for everyone to see.

City is a pity, half of y'all won't make it
The reality is that the city can be harsh, and only a portion of the people who come here will achieve their goals and survive.

Me, I got a plug, Special Ed, 'I Got It Made'
Personally, I have influential connections and support, just like the rapper Special Ed's famous song 'I Got It Made'.

If Jeezy's payin' Lebron, I'm payin' Dwyane Wade
If Young Jeezy, a rapper, is providing financial support to LeBron James, a basketball player, then I am supporting Dwyane Wade, another basketball player, with my own finances.

Three dice Cee-lo, three-card Monte
These are popular gambling games in which players roll three dice in Cee-lo or participate in a card trick called three-card Monte.

Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Referencing the annual Labor Day Parade in Brooklyn, which celebrates Caribbean culture, as well as paying tribute to the late reggae icon, Bob Marley.

Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade (come on, come on, come on)
Mentioning the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom, and expressing a desire for the longevity and prosperity of the World Trade Center, a prominent location in the city.

Long live the king, yo, I'm from the Empire State that's
Extending wishes for the longevity of the king, while proudly asserting my origin from New York, also known as the Empire State.

Lights is blinding, girls need blinders
The bright lights of the city can be dazzling and overwhelming, requiring girls to wear figurative blinders to stay focused and not get distracted.

So they can step out of bounds quick, the sidelines is
Wearing blinders allows them to avoid veering off course or making impulsive decisions, as the sidelines of life can be risky and dangerous.

Lined with casualties, who sip the life casually
The sidelines are filled with people who are casualties, casually sipping on the experiences and opportunities life presents.

Then gradually become worse, don't bite the apple, Eve
As time passes, these people often deteriorate morally or emotionally. This line references the biblical story of Adam and Eve, cautioning against succumbing to temptation or making harmful choices.

Caught up in the in-crowd, now you're in style
Being swept up in the popular and influential group, you find yourself in the current trend or fashion.

Into the winter gets cold, en vogue, with your skin out
As the winter season arrives, people adapt to the new fashion trends, wearing skin-revealing outfits that may not be suitable for the cold weather.

City of sin, it's a pity on a whim
New York City, known for its sinful behavior, can be considered a shame or disgrace when people engage in risky actions on a whim.

Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
Many well-behaved girls have turned to mischievous or bad behavior due to the influence and temptations present in the city.

Mommy took a bus trip, now she got her bust out
A mother embarked on a journey, possibly leaving her old life behind, and now she has achieved success and freed herself from limitations.

Everybody ride her, just like a bus route
Everyone takes advantage of her newfound success and popularity, just like people riding a bus along its designated route.

'Hail Mary' to the city, you're a virgin
A reference to the phrase 'Hail Mary' and its religious connotation, comparing the city to a virgin who is unspoiled and full of potential.

And Jesus can't save you, life starts when the church end
In this city, relying on religion alone cannot protect or save you. Life begins and takes shape once you step outside the confines of the church.

Came here for school, graduated to the high life
Initially arriving in the city for educational purposes, I have now advanced and transitioned into a life of luxury, wealth, and success.

Ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight
The city is filled with professional athletes and famous rappers who are hooked on the attention and fame that comes with being in the spotlight.

MDMA got you feelin' like a champion (come on, come on, come on)
The drug MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, leaves you feeling invincible and like a champion, encouraging you to keep going and partying.

The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien
New York City is always vibrant and active, and to keep up with the pace, you may need to take a sleep aid like Ambien to rest and recharge.

One hand in the air for the big city (uh)
Symbolically, I raise one hand in the air to salute and acknowledge the grandeur and significance of the big city.

Street lights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty (uh)
The street lights of the city shine upon people with ambitious dreams, creating a picturesque scene that appears glamorous and appealing.

No place in the world that could compare (nah)
There is nowhere else in the world that can rival or compare to the unique qualities and experiences offered by New York City.

Put your lighters in the air everybody say
I encourage the audience to raise their lighters in the air as a form of celebration and unity, while also expressing a call to action.

"Yeah, yeah" (come on, come on, come on)
Enthusiastic agreement and participation, encouraging the crowd to respond with the phrase "Yeah, yeah".

"Yeah, yeah" (I'm from New York)
An affirmation of my connection and pride in being from New York City.

In New York (uh, yeah) (ohh)
This line reiterates that I am currently in New York City, emphasizing the nostalgic and emotional tone with an exclamation of surprise.

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
Emphasizing the city's fast-paced and challenging environment, in which dreams can be realized despite the obstacles.

There's nothin' you can't do (okay)
Reaffirming the immense opportunities and possibilities available in the city, emphasizing the limitless nature of what one can achieve here.

Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
Once you have entered New York City, this line signifies a realization that you are now part of something bigger and more significant.

These streets will make you feel brand new
The vibrant and bustling streets of New York City have the power to make you feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready for new experiences.

Big lights will inspire you (okay)
The grandeur and brilliance of the city's lights have the ability to ignite inspiration and motivation within you.

Let's hear it for New York (uh)
An enthusiastic call to give recognition and applause to the greatness of New York City.

New York (yeah), New York (uh)
Repeatedly emphasizing and celebrating the city of New York, recognizing its significance and impact.