When You're Home
Leslie Grace Lyrics

I used to think we lived at the top of the world
When I was young, I felt like my place was at the top of the world.

When the world was just a subway map
This was when the map of the world was the subway route.

And the one-slash-nine
One of the subway routes was the way to my place.

Climbed a dotted line to my place
The subway climbed up a dotted line that led to my place.

There's no nine train now
The subway line to my place does not exist anymore.

Right
Yes

I used to think the Bronx was a place in the sky
At that time, I had imagined that the Bronx was a place in the sky.

And my thoughts took shape
My thoughts became reality.

On that fire escape
On the fire escape that led outside.

Can you remind me of what it was like
Please tell me about what it was like at that time.

At the top of the world?
When I felt like I was at the top of the world.

Come with me
Please come with me.

We begin July
We start the month of July.

With a stop at my corner fire hydrant
We stop by the fire hydrant at the corner of my street.

You would open it every summer
Every summer, you would open the fire hydrant.

I would bust it with a wrench
I would break open the hydrant using a wrench.

Till my face got drenched
I got drenched in the water from the hydrant.

Till I heard the sirens
Until I heard the sound of sirens approaching.

And then I ran like hell!
After hearing the sirens, I ran as fast as I could.

You ran like hell!
You ran just as fast as I did.

Yeah, I ran like hell!
I ran as fast as I could.

Yeah, I remember well!
I remember that moment vividly.

To your father's dispatch window
We went to your father's window to hide.

"Hey, let me in, yo!
"Please let me in!

They're coming to get me!"
They are coming to find me.

You were always in constant trouble
You were always getting into trouble.

Then your dad would act all snide, but he'd let me hide
Your father was acting like he was annoyed, but he would let me hide.

You'd be there inside
You would always be there to help me hide.

Life was easier then
Life was simpler back then.

Nina, everything is easier
Everything is easier when you're here with us.

When you're home
When you're back home with us.

The street's a little kinder when you're home
The street feels safer when you're back home with us.

Can't you see
Don't you understand?

That the day seems clearer
The day feels brighter.

Now that you are here or
Because you are now with us.

Is it me?
Is it because of me?

Maybe it's just me
Maybe it's just my perspective.

We gotta go I wanna show you all I know
We need to leave now, I want to show you everything I have learned.

The sun is setting and the light is getting low
The sun is starting to set and the light is getting dimmer.

Are we going to Castle Garden?
Are we going to Castle Garden?

Maybe, maybe not, but way to take a shot, when the day is hot
Maybe we won't go, but it's worth a shot when it's hot outside.

I got a perfect shady spot
I know of a great spot that is shady.

A little ways away that oughta
It's just a short distance away.

Cool us down
It will cool us off.

Welcome back to town (hey!)
Welcome back to the neighborhood.

Now, back in high school when it darkened
When it became dark outside in high school.

You'd hang out in Bennett Park and
You would hang out at Bennett Park.

And Usnavi would bring his radio
Usnavi would bring his radio with him.

As I walked home from Senior Studies
As I walked home from my senior studies.

I'd see you rapping with your buddies
I would see you rapping with your friends.

With the volume high
With the volume turned up high.

I walked on by
I kept walking past.

Yeah, you walked on by
You also kept walking past.

¡No pare! ¡Sigue, sigue! (Woah)
Don't stop! Keep going! (Woah)

When you're home
When you're back home with us.

The summer nights are cooler
The summer nights feel cooler.

Now that you're here with me
Now that you are back here with us.

And that song you are hearing is the
The song you are hearing is from the neighborhood.

Neighborhood just cheering you along
The neighborhood is rooting for you.

Don't say that
Don't say that.

What's wrong?
What's the matter?

Don't say that!
Don't say that.

When I was younger, I'd imagine what would happen
When I was younger, I would imagine what would happen.

If my parents had stayed in Puerto Rico
If my parents had not moved to the U.S.

Who would I be if I had never seen Manhattan
Who would I be if I had grown up in Puerto Rico?

If I lived in Puerto Rico with my people
If I had grown up in Puerto Rico with my family.

My people!
My family!

I feel like all my life, I've tried to find the answer
I have always been searching for answers in life.

Working harder, learning Spanish, learning all I can
I have been working harder, learning Spanish, and trying to learn as much as I can.

I thought I might find the answer out at Stanford
I thought I might find the answer while attending Stanford.

But I'd stare out at the sea
But I would just stare out at the sea.

Thinking, where'm I supposed to be?
Wondering where I am meant to be.

So please don't say you're proud of me, when I've lost my way
So please don't say you are proud of me when I am lost.

Then can I say
Then can I say?

I couldn't get my mind off you all day
I couldn't stop thinking about you all day.

Now listen to me!
Now, listen to me!

That may be how you perceive it
That might be how you see it.

But Nina please believe
But please believe me, Nina.

That when you find your way again
That when you find your way back.

You are gonna change the world and then
You will change the world, and then...

We're all gonna brag and say we knew her when, yeah
We will all be proud and tell everyone we knew you when you were starting out.

This was your home
This place; this neighborhood was your home.

I'm home
I am home.

Welcome home
Welcome back home.

When you're here with me
When you are here with us.

You're finally home (I'm home)
You are finally back home. (I am also back home.)