Empire State Of Mind (Part II) Broken Down

Album: The Element of Freedom (2009)
Charted: 4 55
Play Video
  • Ooh, New York
    Ooh, New York

    Grew up in a town that is famous as a place of movie scenes
    Noise is always loud, there are sirens all around and the streets are mean
    If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere, that's what they say
    Seeing my face in lights or my name on marquees found down on Broadway
    Even if it ain't all it seems, I got a pocketful of dreams

    Baby, I'm from New York
    Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
    There's nothing you can't do
    Now you're in New York
    These streets will make you feel brand new
    Big lights will inspire you
    Hear it for New York, New York, New York

    On the avenue, there ain't never a curfew, ladies work so hard
    Such a melting pot, on the corner selling rock, preachers pray to God
    Hail a gypsy cab, takes me down from Harlem to the Brooklyn Bridge
    Someone sleeps tonight with a hunger far more than an empty fridge
    I'ma make it by any means, I got a pocketful of dreams

    Baby, I'm from New York
    Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
    There's nothing you can't do
    Now you're in New York
    These streets will make you feel brand new
    Big lights will inspire you
    Hear it for New York, New York, New York

    One hand in the air for the big city
    Street lights, big dreams, all looking pretty
    No place in the world that can compare
    Put your lighters in the air, everybody say
    Yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah

    In New York
    Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
    There's nothing you can't do
    Now you're in New York
    These streets will make you feel brand new
    Big lights will inspire you
    Hear it for New York Writer/s: Alexander Shuckburgh, Alicia Augello Cook, Angela Hunte, Bert Keyes, Janet Sewell, Shawn Carter, Sylvia Robinson
    Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

  • Pedro from PortugalI love this song. Alicia is great
    The Jay Z is fine. But this one is great, suberb. But i understand americans don't like this one so much. You don't know much classical music . And by classic music I mean Beethoven, Debussy, Mozart. etc
    Sorry. You don't know what you are missing.
  • Oto from SlovakiaPerfect song! So much energy from sung melody...
  • Joseph from Brooklyn, NyMe and my mother love this song. Jay-z's version was good too.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"They're Playing My Song

As a songwriter and producer, Narada had hits with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Starship. But what song does he feel had the greatest impact on his career?

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

N.W.A vs. the World

N.W.A vs. the WorldSong Writing

How the American gangsta rappers made history by getting banned in the UK.