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An Open Letter To NYC Lyrics
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
Brownstones, water towers, trees, skyscrapers
Writers, prize fighters and Wall Street traders
We come together on the subway cars
Diversity unified, whoever you are
We're doing fine on the One and Nine line
On the L we're doin' swell
On the number Ten bus we fight and fuss
'Cause we're thorough in the boroughs and that's a must
I remember when the Duece was all porno flicks
Running home after school to play PIX * 1
At lunch I'd go to Blimpies down on Montague Street
And hit the Fulton Street Mall for the sneakers on my feet
Dear New York I hope you're doing well
I know a lot's happen and you've been through hell
So, we give thanks for providing a home
Through your gates at Ellis Island we passed in droves
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
The L.I.E. the B.Q.E
Hippies at the band shell with the L.S.D.
Get my BVD's from VIM
You know I'm reppin' Manhattan the best I can
Stopped off at Bleeker Bob's got thrown out
Sneakin' in at 4:00 am after going out
You didn't rob me in the park at Dianna Ross
But everybody started looting when the light went off
From the South South Bronx on out to Queens Bridge
From Hollis Queens right down to Bay Ridge
From Castle Hill to the Lower East Side
From 1010 WINS to Live At Five
Dear New York this is a love letter
To you and how you brought us together
We can't say enough about all you do
'Cause in the city were ourselves and electric too
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
Shout out the South Bronx where my mom hails from
Right next to High Bridge across from Harlem
To the Grand Concourse where my mom and dad met
Before they moved on down to the Upper West
I see you're still strong after all that's gone on
Life long we dedicate this song
Just a little something to show some respect
To the city that blends and mends and tests
Since 911 we're still livin'
And lovin' life we've been given
Ain't nothing gonna take that away from us
Were lookin' pretty and gritty 'cause in the city we trust
Dear New York I know a lot has changed
2 towers down but you're still in the game
Home to many rejecting know one
Accepting peoples of all places, wherever they're from
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
Writers, prize fighters and Wall Street traders
We come together on the subway cars
Diversity unified, whoever you are
We're doing fine on the One and Nine line
On the L we're doin' swell
On the number Ten bus we fight and fuss
'Cause we're thorough in the boroughs and that's a must
I remember when the Duece was all porno flicks
Running home after school to play PIX * 1
At lunch I'd go to Blimpies down on Montague Street
And hit the Fulton Street Mall for the sneakers on my feet
Dear New York I hope you're doing well
I know a lot's happen and you've been through hell
So, we give thanks for providing a home
Through your gates at Ellis Island we passed in droves
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
Hippies at the band shell with the L.S.D.
Get my BVD's from VIM
You know I'm reppin' Manhattan the best I can
Stopped off at Bleeker Bob's got thrown out
Sneakin' in at 4:00 am after going out
You didn't rob me in the park at Dianna Ross
But everybody started looting when the light went off
From the South South Bronx on out to Queens Bridge
From Hollis Queens right down to Bay Ridge
From Castle Hill to the Lower East Side
From 1010 WINS to Live At Five
Dear New York this is a love letter
To you and how you brought us together
We can't say enough about all you do
'Cause in the city were ourselves and electric too
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
Right next to High Bridge across from Harlem
To the Grand Concourse where my mom and dad met
Before they moved on down to the Upper West
I see you're still strong after all that's gone on
Life long we dedicate this song
Just a little something to show some respect
To the city that blends and mends and tests
Since 911 we're still livin'
And lovin' life we've been given
Ain't nothing gonna take that away from us
Were lookin' pretty and gritty 'cause in the city we trust
Dear New York I know a lot has changed
2 towers down but you're still in the game
Home to many rejecting know one
Accepting peoples of all places, wherever they're from
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
Song Info
Submitted by
alucard On Jun 06, 2004
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Sweet sample of the Dead Boys Song "Sonic Reducer"
can you even classify this as a '9/11' song? sure, they make several clear referances to that but it's also a general love letter to NYC. great song, I'm proud of NYC being my hometown.
Though the song isn't strictly about it, I think it was 9/11 which inspired them to write it. Being New Yorkers, the Boys wanted to show their love and appreciation for the city. Since the tragedy, NYC has underwent some changes both mentally and physically, but it is still a place that millions of people are proud to call their home (myself included). Its the perfect anthem for how great the city is and how much it means to the people who live there. An amazing song and I can fully say this is one of my favorite BB songs ever. Even if you don't like the guys, you can't deny the power and emotion behind this song.
I saw them perform this song at the Gold Coast Big Day Out here in Australia and they definitely had an emotion about them when they sang this song - which even overshadowed their pride singing No Sleep til Brooklyn, which apparantly hasn't been performed many times in their career. They are one of the very few performers/entertainers who make you want to go to New York. Great song.
Wow not anti-semitic. I guess saying Jews are going to lead to the downfall of this country isn't anti-semitic. I'm sure your not an anti-semite with a name like JewStain. Yeah you're just stating facts right. Yes you're right your small orginization must be smarter than the rest of the United States. I just want to thank you for opening my eyes. Now I think I'll go burn down a cinagogue, don't worry it's not anti-semetic it's just helping the American public. I guess it's a good idea to stop teaching our kids that whol holocaust thing those Jews really just had it comin ya know with their putting white men out of work. You are a genious man.
i'm not from new york, but this song definitely shows me how much pride new yorkers have for their state
Saw them sing it on the European MTV Music awards.. Great song!
Yeah, and that was awesome how Adrock and Mike D came on riding on bikes and MCA with the skateboard.
Look, people. It doesn't matter what race the Beasties are or what they look like. I'm just so shocked by the above comment (you know the one), I think it should be removed. It certainly has nothing to do with the meaning of An Open Letter To NYC & doesn't apply to anything the Beasties have ever done.
Don't just blindly accept as fact the news stroies and propaganda that the Jewish media and ADL plant in our heads, but rather, think for yourself and think about what's going on in the world and the reasons why it is all happening. Would the United States be in this mess today without the influence of Jewism? Are you aware that the highest priority of Jews is to gain control of everyone and everything? This is not an anti-semitic statement, but rather an attempt to get the American public to wake up and save ourselves from an almost certain catastrophic future.
Hold on! Wait a minute! The Beastie Boys have never taken part in any propaganda! The thing this guy is talking about doesn't even apply to the Beasties. No matter what your crazy views are! All Beastie songs are about the love of music, life, & fun. There is no secret agenda other than trying to remind the world what real Hip Hop sounds like. If you don't listen just because they were born Jewish, you're missing out.
Hold on! Wait a minute! The Beastie Boys have never taken part in any propaganda! The thing this guy is talking about doesn't even apply to the Beasties. No matter what your crazy views are! All Beastie songs are about the love of music, life, & fun. There is no secret agenda other than trying to remind the world what real Hip Hop sounds like. If you don't listen just because they were born Jewish, you're missing out.