In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Hello Brooklyn
Hello Brooklyn, how you doing?
Where you going? And can I come too?
And if I can, I'ma be your man
You could be my lady, and have my baby
And drive my cars, and drive me crazy
Wherever your going baby girl just take me
'Cause I'm so taken, if you taken
I'm just saying baby, I'm just saying
Like a mama you birthed me, Brooklyn you nursed me
Schooled me with hard knocks, better than Berkeley
They say you'd murk me by the time I was 21
That shit disturbed me, but you never hurt me
Hello Brooklyn, if we had a daughter
Guess what I'ma call her, Brooklyn Carter
When I left you for Virginia, it didn't offend ya
'Cause you know I only stepped out to get dinner
And I'm eating, so much I bought extra
So much so that dinners now turned into breakfast
I only roll Lexus, to hug your road
I love your corners, I'm half your soul
Hello Brooklyn, how you doing?
Where you going? Can I come too?
And if I can, I'ma be your man
You could be my lady, and have my baby
And drive my cars, and drive me crazy
Wherever your going baby girl just take me
'Cause I'm so taken, if you taken
I'm just saying baby, I'm just saying
Hello Brooklyn
Hello Brooklyn
Whats your story, she said she's eating on the run but she ain't N.O.R.E
She said she's got a man but he ain't worried
But baby I'ma have to rob him like Horry
She said she love B.I.G. and she likes Tupac
And when I said Jay-Z she say, "It's the Roc"
I'ma leave it like this, like this like that
Where Brooklyn at? Where Brooklyn at?
Have you seen her? And when she tell you something you better believe her
She told me she like my New Orleans demeanor
And so I said, goodbye Katrina, and hello Brooklyn
But baby you are, the sweetest site eyes could see
I said hello Brooklyn, but baby I hope you never say goodbye to me
I said hello Brooklyn, buh-buh-baby you are so damn fine to me
And I remember the time, place and the weather, on the day you said hi to me
And let's say hello Brooklyn
Brooklyn you crazy, look how you made me
Razor blades in my mouth walking 'round behaving
All demented, black hoodies and Timberland'd
Always scheming, "You see the gleam on that niggas pendant?"
Hello Brooklyn, you bad influence
Look what you had me doing
But I ain't mad at you, look at my attitude, it says my life's too real
Check out my ice grill, baby I'm cold as ice
Like I'm from Brownsville, but my Bed's in the Stuy
Though I'll lie flat in your bush, 'til we smoking C.I.
What up to the boy B.I., you know I handle B.I.
I don't half step on the 'caine, ask the dreads 'bout I
How you gwaan so? She like it hardcore
So I grind slow, iller than Albee Square Mall back in the 9-0
My fine hoe we got some victims to catch
So in a couple years baby, I'ma bring you some Nets
Hello Brooklyn, how you doing?
Where you going? Can I come too?
And if I can, I'ma be your man
You could be my lady, and have my baby
And drive my cars, and drive me crazy
Wherever your going baby girl just take me
'Cause I'm so taken, if you taken
I'm just saying baby, I'm just saying
Hello Brooklyn
Hello Brooklyn, buh-buh-baby you are
The sweetest thing eyes could see
Hello Brooklyn, baby I hope you never say goodbye to me
I said hello Brooklyn, buh-buh-baby you are so damn fine to me
But I remember the time, place and the weather, on the day you said hi to me
And let's say hello Brooklyn
Hello Brooklyn, how you doing?
Where you going? And can I come too?
And if I can, I'ma be your man
You could be my lady, and have my baby
And drive my cars, and drive me crazy
Wherever your going baby girl just take me
'Cause I'm so taken, if you taken
I'm just saying baby, I'm just saying
Like a mama you birthed me, Brooklyn you nursed me
Schooled me with hard knocks, better than Berkeley
They say you'd murk me by the time I was 21
That shit disturbed me, but you never hurt me
Hello Brooklyn, if we had a daughter
Guess what I'ma call her, Brooklyn Carter
When I left you for Virginia, it didn't offend ya
'Cause you know I only stepped out to get dinner
And I'm eating, so much I bought extra
So much so that dinners now turned into breakfast
I only roll Lexus, to hug your road
I love your corners, I'm half your soul
Hello Brooklyn, how you doing?
Where you going? Can I come too?
And if I can, I'ma be your man
You could be my lady, and have my baby
And drive my cars, and drive me crazy
Wherever your going baby girl just take me
'Cause I'm so taken, if you taken
I'm just saying baby, I'm just saying
Hello Brooklyn
Hello Brooklyn
Whats your story, she said she's eating on the run but she ain't N.O.R.E
She said she's got a man but he ain't worried
But baby I'ma have to rob him like Horry
She said she love B.I.G. and she likes Tupac
And when I said Jay-Z she say, "It's the Roc"
I'ma leave it like this, like this like that
Where Brooklyn at? Where Brooklyn at?
Have you seen her? And when she tell you something you better believe her
She told me she like my New Orleans demeanor
And so I said, goodbye Katrina, and hello Brooklyn
But baby you are, the sweetest site eyes could see
I said hello Brooklyn, but baby I hope you never say goodbye to me
I said hello Brooklyn, buh-buh-baby you are so damn fine to me
And I remember the time, place and the weather, on the day you said hi to me
And let's say hello Brooklyn
Brooklyn you crazy, look how you made me
Razor blades in my mouth walking 'round behaving
All demented, black hoodies and Timberland'd
Always scheming, "You see the gleam on that niggas pendant?"
Hello Brooklyn, you bad influence
Look what you had me doing
But I ain't mad at you, look at my attitude, it says my life's too real
Check out my ice grill, baby I'm cold as ice
Like I'm from Brownsville, but my Bed's in the Stuy
Though I'll lie flat in your bush, 'til we smoking C.I.
What up to the boy B.I., you know I handle B.I.
I don't half step on the 'caine, ask the dreads 'bout I
How you gwaan so? She like it hardcore
So I grind slow, iller than Albee Square Mall back in the 9-0
My fine hoe we got some victims to catch
So in a couple years baby, I'ma bring you some Nets
Hello Brooklyn, how you doing?
Where you going? Can I come too?
And if I can, I'ma be your man
You could be my lady, and have my baby
And drive my cars, and drive me crazy
Wherever your going baby girl just take me
'Cause I'm so taken, if you taken
I'm just saying baby, I'm just saying
Hello Brooklyn
Hello Brooklyn, buh-buh-baby you are
The sweetest thing eyes could see
Hello Brooklyn, baby I hope you never say goodbye to me
I said hello Brooklyn, buh-buh-baby you are so damn fine to me
But I remember the time, place and the weather, on the day you said hi to me
And let's say hello Brooklyn
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This song is one of my favorites off American Gangster, its about his love for his hometown and the trails he went there in his youth making him he man he is today.
I love Jay and the AG album. I agree that Weezy has stepped his game up in the last four years even to the point where he and Jay should do a song together. But this one? Wayne's from LA not NY, New Orleans not Brooklyn. I would have hoped Jay would have found other BK natives to re-do this song with.
Lyric corrections: Hard knocks better then Worked hey say u murked me should be: Hard knocks better then Berkley, hey say u murked me as in the University of California. School of Hard Knocks, College, get it?
Lyric corrections: Hard knocks better then Worked hey say u murked me should be: Hard knocks better then Berkley, hey say u murked me as in the University of California. School of Hard Knocks, College, get it?
"My Fine hoe we got some victims to catch, so in a couple years I'ma bring you some nets"
awesome line referring to Jay-Z being a part-owner of the New Jersey Nets, and how hard the franchise is trying to migrate from NJ to Brooklyn.
How the fuck does this pass for a song? This is just 2 seconds from "B-Boy Bouillabaisse" looped over and over for 4 minutes. Utter shit. Most of the rest of this album is good, though...
"o I grind slow illa den outa square mall bac in da 9.0' my find hoe we got some victims to catch so in a couple years I'm a bring u sum nex"
it's "Albee Square Mall".... fort greene holla!
easy classic like "Mr. Carter"