The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
[Verse 1: Tony Sunshine]
On the streets of New York [Repeat: x 2]
I was standing by the hydrin watching time fly by
Me and Crazy Lou, Tony Tuibe with them brown eyes
Conversating 'bout nothing just watching time fly
Nothing to do man except be with the crews and
That's when I seen the moon and the stars align
I'm talking 'bout when she walked on by
I thought I saw heaven, well
[Chorus]
I'm just giving it up for my baby
Giving it up for my darlin'
Giving it up for my baby
I'm thanking God that I found my darlin'
[Hook]
Make ya say well, (well) well well well
Heyyyyyy, we fell in love
On the streets of New York,
On the streets of New York [2x]
[Verse 2: Tony Sunshine]
Now, If you want to be my baby, darlin'
All you gotta do is call and I'll come running, well
Because all I live to do is be the one He meant for you
And what you want me to be I can be that honey, well
[Chorus]
[Verse 3: Remi Martin Rap]
You see I'm 21 sitting on them 23's so I
Guess I can why a dude like you would like me
I got a box of duchess and a whole lot of weed
So why don't you and your dawgs come chill
With me and my b's, It's really nice to meet you
See my name is Remi but if it wasn't then I bet
That they would call me Ice Tea because see
It's all frozen and then we both rolling so
Start rolling so we can start rolling tall
I'm the type to put ya trust in and I got a big
Truck that we can crush in and see I'm not
Scared to have a one night cause after one
Night guaranteed you're gonna want to be my man
[Hook: repeat until fade]
On the streets of New York
On the streets of New York
On the streets of New York [Repeat: x 2]
I was standing by the hydrin watching time fly by
Me and Crazy Lou, Tony Tuibe with them brown eyes
Conversating 'bout nothing just watching time fly
Nothing to do man except be with the crews and
That's when I seen the moon and the stars align
I'm talking 'bout when she walked on by
I thought I saw heaven, well
[Chorus]
I'm just giving it up for my baby
Giving it up for my darlin'
Giving it up for my baby
I'm thanking God that I found my darlin'
[Hook]
Make ya say well, (well) well well well
Heyyyyyy, we fell in love
On the streets of New York,
On the streets of New York [2x]
[Verse 2: Tony Sunshine]
Now, If you want to be my baby, darlin'
All you gotta do is call and I'll come running, well
Because all I live to do is be the one He meant for you
And what you want me to be I can be that honey, well
[Chorus]
[Verse 3: Remi Martin Rap]
You see I'm 21 sitting on them 23's so I
Guess I can why a dude like you would like me
I got a box of duchess and a whole lot of weed
So why don't you and your dawgs come chill
With me and my b's, It's really nice to meet you
See my name is Remi but if it wasn't then I bet
That they would call me Ice Tea because see
It's all frozen and then we both rolling so
Start rolling so we can start rolling tall
I'm the type to put ya trust in and I got a big
Truck that we can crush in and see I'm not
Scared to have a one night cause after one
Night guaranteed you're gonna want to be my man
[Hook: repeat until fade]
On the streets of New York
On the streets of New York
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Streets of NY Lyrics as written by Ruth Copland Remy Kioni Smith
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Two Barking Dogs LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.