Three years ago she left me in the valley
Said, the city life was what she wanted more
She said, life in the valley was to simple
Excitement was what she wanted more
She said, she'd be important in the city
Didn't she know how important she was here
For three years now I watched alone and waited
Somethin' told me that I would see her once again
Today I'm gonna drive down to the station
And I'll pick her up and bring her home at last
So often I've said that I'd forgive her
For anything that's happened in the past
Last week I got a letter from the city
Sayin' they were going to send me what was mine
She's commin' back to stay here in the valley
She's returning in a simple box of pine
I guess I'll take a ride by the river
Even though my heart would break
And I'll give her flowers like I used to give her
We're together once again for old time's sake
Oh, she never was important in the city
Just a girl whose lucky star will never shine
But she's commin' back to stay here in the valley
She's returning in a simple box of pine
Ahhhhhh
Ah, ahhhhhh
Ah, ahhhhhh
As a child on the farm
I was warned of the wiles of the city
Of that demon disguise
There's the dirt in the skies of the city
Well they say the proximity warps their minds
'Til they're shooting one another just pass the time
And we live it appears
Both in spite and in fear of the city
Oooohhh, ooohhhh yeah
Oooohhh
I was constantly told
How our lives were controlled by the city
How they keep us in debt
With the trends that they set it's a pity
Now the beautiful people in the magazines
Got the normal ones living beyond their means
And the things that they said
Made me go in my head to the city
Oooohhh
Ahhhhhhh
Ah, ahhhhhh
Ah, ahhhhhh
When I finally came
There's some things still the same in the city
You still lie under the thumb
Of the rich and the young and the pretty
Well they weren't much different than we might act
If there was that many others stacked and closely packed
It's an ancient idea
But it struck me so clear in the city
Oooohhh, ooohhhh yeah
Oooohhh, ooohhhh yeah
Oooohhh
Ahhhhhh
Ah, ahhhhhh
Ah, ahhhhhh
"I'd like to do a song that was written about a good friend of mine down in Key West, Florida, where I spend a little bit of time. This particular friend of mine ran a bar in Key West for a long time before we got fed up with all the other alternatives to politicians and elected our favorite bartender mayor. Our mayor's name is Captain Tony Tarascino, has a little place called Captain Tony's Saloon where we wrote a little song called Last Mango in Paris, not to be confused with that movie by a similar title."
Gonna stay out of New York
There's something there that drives me crazy
Gonna stay out of New York
There's something there that bleeds me dry
It gets so bad that I stop breathin'
And then the sun don't wanna shine
There's something wrong with New York
It's a prison without walls
No I won't go back there
I just don't like that place at all
You might call it sophistication
But I say time is runnin' out
I won't go back to New York
There's a darkness all around
No, I just can't handle it
You know that place is gettin' me down
You can say it's sophistication
But I say time is runnin' out
Well, I slept last night in the open
Down by a redwood tree
Yes, I slept last night in the open
Just to let, just to let, just to let my soul free
I don't want to know, I don't want to go,
I don't want to go back into the city.
It's just a long long long lonely taxi ride
Going nowhere.
Well, I slept last night in the open
(It gets so hot in the city)
Down by a redwood tree
(It gets so hot in the city)
Yes, I slept last night in the open
Just to let, just to let, just to let my soul free.
I don't want to know, I don't want to go,
I don't want to go back into the city.
It's just a long long long lonely taxi ride
That's black?
Whattup God?
Aiyyo Shorty got beef with that nigga? Word?
Oh shit!!! Yo!
Hold the fuck up
Aiyyo yo, eight niggaz down (just enough)
Fuckin around with my sound (ci-ty)
Yo, bring backup (ci-ty)
Fuckin with me, and mine
Murderous
Check it, yo
The world is shifty, we livin just enough for the city
The rough witty killa bee sting just like the jiggy
My Family Stone, foes attempt to gradually clone
Label them my anus and the casualty's home
It glows coffin, Wu stormin like the light brigade
ride the wave like Frankie Avalon
As I decipher AIDS crime pays
The law's long arm be tryin to strongarm, walkin timebombs
before I bomb firearm
The chalm smoker, I hit the dread with a poster
He toke with his own love and expose the black toaster
Composer was shook
I took your bad looks for joke get your back broke
Deep throat this murder I wrote
The antidote be seekin like a buried treasure
By every measure lethally inject your whole sector
Wanted dead or alive
Rebel I escapes across the desert sand
leavin no footprints to trace
Keep a war face, in your place
Conceal the baby knives on the North breaks
I still shine in shady times
Yeah, yo
We livin just enough (livin just enough)
Just enough (in the ci-ty)
Just enough, for the ci-ty
Yo, in the jungle
I make moves like Iron Monkey
Plots to bump me off D.O.T. be on the hunt for me
We stay hungry, for money drugs and guns
Ones who fake get caught in the crossfire for crumbs
Know the science be my Goddess
The facts tell gats sell like sex and violence
And break the project silence, a vision
This is way beyond four corners, escape this mental prison
Before we're all goners, now embrace the world
for the world war is ocean bomber
Visionary soldier comma
My code of honor, mind still start from the drama
Trauma sent the victim, witness them run, scream in horror
Military chopper come gun down the slum
The outcome do or die Son it's bound to come
Mentally aware I see truth within the square
The future's here catch me on computer software
Warfare's inevitable, Rebel I hold several government official
It's a thirty-eight special, that steps through
Like Nat Turner create a spectacle
I may die in the scuffle but I'm takin forty devils
We livin just enough
Just enough
Just enough
For the ci-ty
It’s infected
This city’s a wasteland
Slow drone reality
Figure head and scapegoats
Holding back the punch line
To exaggerate just right
We’re collecting IOU’s and absent apologies
The unspoken sense of betrayal lingers
Can we get it right?
When everything we know is so wrong
Everything is expandable here
Mannequins and advert placements
We leave no mark
No tasting impressions
(For a next of kin)
We decay
We cower
We remain silent victims
We argue
We justify our own demise
Inner test market
We suck up the fumes
Meat, ones and bright ideas
The city keeps on going...on.
Float down the river with my Iddy and Jay (??????)
Get off the boat and board a plan to JKF and I, ain't
slept a week
But it don't seem to matter to the subway squeakers,
squeak (and squeak)
The city keeps on going
We just keep on rolling
The city keeps on going
We just keep on rolling...on.
Grand Central Station and got wind they're coming on
And the goodness yesterday(????)
No one round oh and I still recognize her after all
these years and she still looks the same
Ah, she still looks the same.
Oh and we end up in Brooklyn
It was rainin' so hard
Come up all day
And the rain to clear it off,
Oh we're just people watching on 3rd and St. Mormons
(???)
And when the girl's kissing my face, my face
She was just kissing my face
And again, again...
Just when I was sick and lonely,
There was a shaking on the ground
We were hiding from the rain
We were riding on the train
Just when I was sick and lonely,
There was a shaking on the ground
Were were hiding from the rain
Were were riding on the train.
She was dancing on the midway
Just kissing my face
She was dancing on the midway
Just kissing my face
Dancing on the midway
Kissing my face
Dancing on the midway
This city never sleeps
I hear the people walk by when it’s late
Sirens bleed through my windowsill
I can’t close my eyes
Don’t control what I’m into
This tower is alive
The lights that blind keep me awake
With my hood up and lace untied
Sleep fills my mind
Don’t control what I’m into
London calls me a stranger
A traveller
This is now my home, my home
I’m burning on the back street
Stuck here sitting in the backseat
I’m blazing on the street
What I do isn’t up to you
And if the city never sleeps
Then that makes two
The pavement is my friend
Hey, and it will take me where I need to go
I find it trips me up
And puts me down
This is not what I’m used to
The shop across the road
Fulfills my needs and gives me company
When I need it
Voices speak through my walls
I don’t think I’m gonna make it
Past tomorrow
London calls me a stranger
A traveller
This is now my home, my home
I’m burning on the back street
Stuck here sitting in the backseat
I’m blazing on the street
What I do isn’t up to you
And if the city never sleeps
Then that makes two
And my lungs hurt
And my ears bled
With the sound of the city life
Echoed in my head
Do I need this to keep me alive?
The traffic stops and starts
But I need to move along
London calls me a stranger
This is not my home
I’m burning on the back street
Stuck here sitting in the backseat
I’m blazing on the street
What I do isn’t up to you
And if the city never sleeps
Won't let the city destroy our love
Won't let the city destroy our love
You know I
I hate to see you cry
But when you open up to me
I take you in my arms
Wish you the top top top top of the morning
No I
don't care about cash or careers
Your losses or your arrears
I take you in my arms
Wish you the top top top top of the morning
CHORUS
Won't let the city destroy our love
Won't let the city destroy my love
Won't let no mistake take the roof from off our heads
No I
Won't let this city destroy us
Won't let the city destroy our love
(sax solo)
(come on)
Talk to me
Let me shed some light on your dark
Help you see
How darling you've left your mark
On my life
And the beautiful all around
When I see you top top top top of the morning
I was lost
Until that night we kissed
Give it up
A life oh darling not this
You want more
Than the hell this city lets you down
When I see you top top top top of the morning
CHORUS
Won't let the city destroy our love
Won't let the city destroy my love
Won't let no mistake take the roof from off our heads
No I
Won't let this city destroy us
Won't let the city destroy our love
Won't let the city destroy our love
Won't let the city destroy my love
Won't let no mistake take the roof from off our heads
No I
Won't let this city destroy us
Won't let the city destroy our love
(won't let the city won't won't let this city)
(sax solo)
No no no no
Not about the debts you made
The car we never had
The house we never owned
Darling don't look so sad
It's about that day we kissed
Down by Niagara Falls
It's about the keys the keys the keys to my heart you hold
CHORUS
(Top top top top of the morning to you)
Won't let the city destroy our love
Won't let the city destroy my love
Won't let no mistake take the roof from off our heads
No I
Won't let this city destroy us
Won't let the city destroy our love
Won't let the city destroy our love
Won't let the city destroy my love
Won't let no mistake take the roof from off our heads
No I
Won't let this city destroy us
Won't let the city destroy our love
(won't let the city won't won't let the city)
Won't let no mistake take the roof from off our heads
No I
Won't let this city destroy us
Joseph tends the garden Malan's houseOn friday evening,
Mr. Malan smokes his pipe and hands Joseph his pay
discuss the roses.
has a parcel of nearly new clothes for him
and his Malan's children play around the
wife and child are five hundred miles
in makes a cup of tea in the
takes it out to his concrete shed at the back of the
seets on his steel bed.
It is the he will get drunk in a
Now I notice the streetlamp's hum
The ghosts of graffiti they couldn't quite erase
The blank-faced stares on the subway
As the people go home
The parks lay empty like my unmade bed
The streets are silent like my lifeless telephone
And this is where I live, but
I've never felt less at home
So I'm not unsympathetic
I see why you left
There's no one to know
There's nothing to do
The city's been dead
Since you've been goneâ¦
Sometimes I stand on my roof at night
And watch, as something seems to happen somewhere else
I feel like the breeze will pick me up and carry me away
Out and over this iridescent grid
Up and away from the bar fights and neon lights
Out and away from everything that makes me what I am
So I'm not unsympathetic
I see why you left
There's no one to know
There's nothing to do
The city's been dead
Since you've been goneâ¦
Oh I never had just whatever it is you want, baby
And I really tried, I tried with all my mightâit made me crazy
To try to figure out what it is I've done wrong every time
When everything I love, everything I hold dear
Heads out sometime
The city was too late for us
I got there and you wanted to get away
The city was too great for us
We slept through the blue skies on the clouds on the duvet
The streets are all too straight for us
A parade of nobility seen from above
The city is to blame for us
and what was our love
what was...
The city makes you make a fuss
These places to meet up under the light
The city's got its stake in us
It's keeping receipts of our hellos and our hi's
And everything is made of dust
From the box of the comics to the little street mice
The city takes so long to get quiet
And lust wasn't sleeping that night
Before we knew it, we knew it was right
Before we blew it I didn't know that we might
And now it's somebody's story
And I'm not sorry that it's mine
Before we knew it we were out of time
And the city says, "Oh, if I could..."
But the rain soaked battered view makes you not sure
Am I walking in your neighborhood?
I was just driving by the rained out streets where we once were
And even though it's way too late
Time seems to have stopped still where we stood
You ran back and you're somewhere in the city
Where are you now, my friend?
Pulling your bike past their windows again?
You know they won't let you in
You don't change the city
The city changes you
Where are you now, my love?
Still in the war with the Aphrodite Mob?
What was I thinking of?
You don't change the city
The city...
You close your eyes
Fall into the rythm
Under the lights
You don't see the shadows
Your shadow watches you
Where does it go, my love?
A mere song that echos from the rooftops above
You've given all but please don't give up
You don't touch the magic
The magic touches you
Under the lights
We fall into the rythm
We close our eyes
We don't watch the city
Staring too long at the lights
Seems no reason to feel alright just yet
Take my trouble to the street
I can't fall asleep
Fall asleep
Fall asleep
Fall.. listening to it
The city
A heartbeat
It moves on
Despite me
Just a glimpse of what could be home
Two thousand miles, I'd go
Just a sniff of what could be home
And I can't fall asleep
Seems no reason for the rush
Moving slowly is still moving
As such
All these people are just dust
Evil puppeteers
Evil tears
Evil tears
Evil
The city
A heartbeat
It moves on
Despite me
The city
A heartbeat
It moves on
Despite me
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
This is only the start
You're only opening the book
You're only on the first line of what's going to take a little while
I hope you don't hold your breath because they revolt like a choir
They say the language is dead, well, then why do we speak
I hope you understand that my brain is fixed
Into the next town
This is only a revolt
Enough is enough because we cannot be late
Basically, you've been defined as "unworthy of love"
And I confess, I had placed in my heart the same address but I paint with my words
"You're free, don't fear, this is just a revolt"
Into the next town
This is only a revolt
Calm rose: violent wind
The only "surrender" tonight, shall not be our own
They cannot escape, one if by land, two if by sea
I saved my money, but it can't save me
And maybe there is blood from the past, but that is not from me
They can take away one man, and they can take away his mic
But they cannot take us all
No, they can't dig a hole the right size to fit all of our dreams
They can't bury me, they can't bury me
We can't hope that somebody else take our place
No, we can't hope that somebody else take our place
May the history book read of all of our names
Be it blood, be it ink, but at least we were free
This is only but a fraction of what I've got to say
It must be said, it must be said
If I leave this earth tonight may it be said that I spoke my peace
I spoke with the wrath of his grace
Calm rose: come violent wind
Oh we stand hand in hand and we walk without fear
Well I've got plans for you.
If you were afraid of this constant drama
Then I have a place for you.
Did you hear what I said, or would you like me to say it again?
I'm taking you down with me.
Was I wrong or right, or does it even really matter anymore?
Does this shit even really matter anymore?
Have you made up you mind yet?
I gave up on you a while ago.
You know I never wanted you to aim high, you hit low.
I gave up on you a while ago.
You know I never wanted you to leave.
Are you through? It seems like this follows the same old pattern.
I'm begging you for something new.
Want me to choose a side? We'll decide. Or should I say it again?
I'm taking you down with me.
Was I wrong or right, or does it even really matter anymore?
Does it even really matter anymore?
Do you still lay awake when everybody leaves?
Was it me who helped you to sleep?
No, I'm just being naïve.
You know I never really wanted you to leave.
Have you made up you mind yet?
I gave up on you a while ago.
You know I never wanted you to aim high, you hit low.
I gave up on you a while ago.
You know I never wanted you to leave.
You know I never wanted you to leave.
You know I never wanted you to leave.
It's often draining to think back on what we used to be.
Can you please, can you please?
Do you still lay awake when everybody leaves?
Was it me who helped you to sleep?
No, I'm just being naïve. (Can you please, can you please?)
Have you made up you mind yet?
I gave up on you a while ago.
You know I never wanted you to aim high, you hit low.
I gave up on you a while ago.
You know I never wanted you to leave.
You know I never wanted you to leave.
You know I never wanted you to leave.
The city it don't like you
No never did
Never did
Won't stop
Won't stop
Till it got you on your knees
Give you a stack of beggar memories
Sends you on your way
Yeah
Get out
Get out
Of your boxes
Running running running with the gases
The city like you know
Don't want you around
Discovering suspicion at the bus stop
You're not one of our kind
You're not our kind
Said you're not our kind
The city it don't like you
No never did
Never did
Won't stop
Won't stop
Till it got you on your knees
Give you a stack of beggar memories
Sends you on your way
Running with the flocks
We are the city
Where the lights come on and they never go out
And the streets are filled with the children's shouts
I want to hear you sing that song for me
I want to capture one at a time
All the little brown flecks that made my eyes go blind
All the wide eyed splendor that I put in a frame
I want to tear it down and let it throw perspective insane
Oh, there's a light up in a box at the top of the post
Giving direction to the shadows that could use it the most
Well, turn aside governor at the sound of her voice
It's wisdom herself that offers the choice
Oh, come to the city
We're taking over the world
We're taking over the world
We are the city
With the lights strung out on the evergreen trees
And the yard lit up so the neighbors can see
Come on and capture what you think you couldn't keep
Turn on the light switch and every thing's bright
It doesn't even take a moment to erase the night
Well, how would it be if I knew this was true
If I opened my eyes and tried to help you
What good is salt if it stops being salty?
I tried to run but my cover was blown
What good is a map if it gives no direction?
And what good is home if it isn't your home?
Oh, come to the city
We're taking over the world
We're taking over the world
My momma said, son, you're a little man
Listen to me and understand
Soon we're gonna take that car
And drive away where ever we are
Let's go, we'll catch a ride to the city
Let's go, where the streets are wide
Let's go, we'll catch a ride to the city
Let's go, go, go, go, go
Oh, come to the city
We're taking over the world
We're taking over the world
We're taking over
Oh, come to the city
We're taking over the world
We're taking over the world
We're taking over
Oh, come to the city
We're taking over the world
We're taking over the world
Can you see my face?
My expression's erased
I'm stuck in this place
I wanna feel my face
I wanna feel my face
I'm wandering through the city
This calm summer breeze
Brushing across my case
I'm charging up myself
Through these streets I should know
These buildings once covered in snow
Just yesterday
I'm pushing through the years
These warm, younger years
That brought me here
I'm listening as they whisper in my ear
Pushing me back to what I wanna be
What I try to be
That calm, tame beast inside of me
Can you see my face?
My expression's erased
this town is made of aluminum
this town is made of glass
why can't you see that?
why can't you understand and come to the city?
press one with my thumb for my messages
but you only leave me rocks
why can you call back? i tried you twenty times i'm sick
of the city
everything's harder here
everyone's so cold
the city is not so inviting when you have no one to hold
there's no one to hold
Main street's burning the clothes we need,
The city is hungry with mouths to feed
The bus stop is crowded with lower class dreams,
Make this go away
Heartbeats and green eyes that follow me,
Next to a bridge on a crowded street
Our town is screamin' for what we need,
Modesty
I won't be seen in the golden sun
I don't believe in what you've become
Take what you want, June has gone away
Notes used to start from the underground,
Street light thinking is coming down
Tell me a riddle, who's laughin' now?
The safe are never sound
I won't be seen in the golden sun
I don't believe in what you've become
Take what you want, June has gone away
I won't be seen in the golden sun
I don't believe in what you've become
Take what you want, June has gone away
Wasted all my youth (wasted all my)
Tears always in the city
And they never seem to leave me alone
The city's gray the city's gray, and it's a pity
That you're no longer comin' around
Oh I feel a missing bed
I'm not trying to get back
I wish you could'nt lie to me
Its so hard to live without certainty
I want you here in the city
You dont want me there anyway
But in the time i know will come
When your love again shines on
Tears always in the city
There is a place in the distance
A place that i've been dreaming of
No, oh time and space don't exist
and we can dance like theres no tomorrow
There is a place
No time and space
We've got tomorrow, to think about tomorrow [x4]
I can feel the city,
Crumbling around me.
I can't seem to find my way.
I can see a bright light,
Crawling through the dark night.
Hoping that i'll find my way.
Yeah, I've had what i've wanted,
and it went away so fast, fast.
Yeah, I've got to let go,
We can dance like theres no tomorrow.
So here we go
We've got tomorrow, to think about tomorrow [x4]
I can feel your heartbeat,
Underneath the concrete.
Just like a kick drum plays.
Running in a straight line,
Got hit by the street lights,
Pushing the dark away.
Yeah, I've had what i've wanted,
and it went away so fast, fast.
Yeah, I've got to let go,
We can dance like theres no tomorrow.
There is a place in the distance,
A place that i've been dreaming of.
No, oh, time and space don't exist,
and we can dance like theres no tomorrow.
There is a place in the distance,
A place that i've been dreaming of.
No, oh, time and space,
and we can dance like theres no tomorrow.
We've got tomorrow, to think about tomorrow [x4]
Tomorrow [x2]
I'm too pac and two spots the block is secured
Stacked up to a fiend me, I'm the one you should call
But shawty on tour, juicy couture over law
And the drough when it's fire bet I can talk em to fall
Rhymes spreaded, I said it with a style
Commerce you dealer, I gave em coke and a smile
From poverty, no cold, it was foul
Now they admire me, I've been broke in a while
Wild, can't be talking to me
After my show, I have to be forced in the van
Came to new york, christopher walken to me
Figgy and pumble, christopher's walking to me
Slick talking tatty, bare arms, from iran, hope you ready
Grave yam yankee fitty cap, fred the god and I came to brign the city back
[Hook]
You know I bees in the city
You drive v's to the city
We push keys to the city
Mayor minds hope give me the key to the city
Now rep your city, this is for the streets
Now rep your city, this is for the streets
Now rep your city, this is for the streets
Now turn up
New york life is lawless
I got the city turnt up like the stocks dumped on mike and harris
Works the purest, same color is
Girl here from school, she studyin the art of chow
Forget the vest I wear liff up
Tbm the best, they will clip em
Heard you got sour around, well we'll stick em
For that 7 pounds with the wesson I will smith em
7 pounds will smith, big bronx uptown and we still spit
We back flowin and y'all know I got lines around the block
Like the tunnel back open
Speaking of tunnel, you know the sun is span
Call me harry and turman cause I got tunnel vision
Blue yankee fitty cap, fred the god and I came to bring the city back
[Hook]
You know I bees in the city
You drive v's to the city
We push keys to the city
Mayor minds hope give me the key to the city
Now rep your city, this is for the streets
Now rep your city, this is for the streets
Now rep your city, this is for the streets
The City
The world is one big strawberry to me
You can see me in the sun
Layin’ in the apple green sea
I made myself a home covered with leaves
And the air that I breath
Is givin’ to me by trees
In the morning when I wake up
No need to put on my makeup
Natural lady!
This is my island in the sun, the perfect place to run
The city, everybody’s busy
I need a little space a rest from here
The city so busy and silly
But today, I’m in the sun
The world is one big air balloon to me
See me jump out of the sky
At about 2.000 feet
No need to worry ‘bout, my own 2 feet
Cause the streets that we walk on
Are made of trampolines
In the evening when I go out
To my favorite castle in the clouds
I get so crazy
We are old before we see
The place we really want to be
Oh babe, drop your life and come away with me
The city, everybody’s busy
I need a little space a rest from here
The city so busy and silly
Where are you now, my friend?
Pulling your bike past their windows again?
You know they won't let you in
You don't change the city
The city changes you
Where are you now, my love?
Still in the war with the Aphrodite Mob?
What was I thinking of?
You don't change the city
The city...
You close your eyes
Fall into the rythm
Under the lights
You don't see the shadows
Your shadow watches you
Where does it go, my love?
A mere song that echos from the rooftops above
You've given all but please don't give up
You don't touch the magic
The magic touches you
Under the lights
We fall into the rythm
We close our eyes
We don't watch the city
Are you keeping up with me? Are you right behind?
I'll drive slow I'll drive slow, I'll drive slow
Because I can't make out the outline of the city now.
I'll drive slow, I'll drive slow, I'll drive slow
Are you keeping up with me? Are you right behind?