An Open Letter to NYC Songtext
von Beastie Boys

Listen, all you New Yorkers

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, prizefighters and Wall Street traders
We come together on the subway cars
Diversity unified, whoever you are, uh

We doin′ 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 Deuce was all porno flicks
Runnin′ home after school to play PIXX
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 doin' well
I know a lot′s happened, and you've been through hell
So, we give thanks for providin′ 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 BQE
Hippies at the band shell with the LSD
Get my BVD's from VIM
You know I'm reppin′ Manhattan the best I can

Stopped off at Bleecker Bob′s, got thrown out
Sneakin' in at 4:00 a.m. after goin′ out
You didn't rob me in the park at Diana Ross
But everybody started lootin′ 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 we're 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 somethin′ to show some respect
To the city that blends and mends and tests, uh

Since 9/11, we're still livin′
And lovin', life we′ve been given
Ain't nothin′ gonna take that away from us
We lookin' pretty and gritty 'cause in the city we trust

Dear, New York, I know a lot has changed
Two towers down, but you′re still in the game
Home to the many, rejectin′ no one
Acceptin' 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

Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern, and Latin
Black, White, New York we make it happen

N-N-N-New York
New York, New York (City, City)
New-New York, New-New-New-
New-York City

Y-Y, Y-Y, Y-York, Y-York
Y-Y, Y-York, Y-York
(New-New York, New-)
(New-New York, New-)
New York City