Life and death in an alley way

Just a heartbeat away from a ma-a-an

Who's learned to turn his head away

From the pai-ain that drai-ains the la-and

Harlem's not too far from here

You can smell the garbage, feel the fear

I hear they're gonna build a skyscraper there-ere

As if we didn't need the extra air-air



New York City blue-ues

In order to wi-in you've got to lo-o-ose

Old before your ti-ime

The dirt and the gri-ime get into everythi-ing

And the papers love to say-ay-ay

It's the meanest town in the USA

But I think it's okay

It's the town I've ma-ade my home



On another side of Park Avenue

Respectable folks don't know-ow-ow

Hungry eyes take in the view

Of the wor-orld that lay-ays them low-ow

Too many years on a welfare line

The old song and da-ance ti-ime after time

You can only get so pushed arou-ound

Until you wanna tear the damn thing dow-own

Tear it dow-own



New York City blue-ues0

In order to wi-in you've got to lo-ose

Old before your ti-i-ime

The dirt and the gri-ime get into everythi-ing

And the papers love to say-ay-ay

It's the meanest town in the USA-a

But I think it's okay

It's the town I've made my ho-o-ome



New York City blue-ues

In order to wi-in you've got to lo-ose

Old before your ti-i-ime

The dirt and the gri-ime get into everythi-i-ing

And the papers love to say-ay-ay

It's the meanest town in the USA-a

But I think it's okay

It's the town I've ma-ade my ho-o-ome