Empire State of Mind, Part II (Broken Down) Lyrics

[Intro]
Ooh, New York
Ooh, New York

[Verse 1]
Grew up in a town that is famous as a place of movie scenes
Noise is always loud, there are sirens all around and the streets are mean
If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere, that's what they say
Seein' my face in lights or my name on marquees found down on Broadway

[Pre-Chorus]
Even if it ain't all it seems (Come on)
I got a pocketful of dreams (Come on)

[Chorus]
Baby, I'm from New York (Oh, yeah)
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of (Oh, come on)
There's nothin' you can't do (Come on)
Now you're in New York (Oh, yeah)
These streets will make you feel brand-new (Oh, come on)
Big lights will inspire you (Big shine)
Hear it for New York (Uh), New York (Yeah), New York (Uh)

[Verse 2]
On the avenue, there ain't ever a curfew, ladies work so hard
Such a meltin' pot, on the corner sellin' rock, preachers pray to God
Hail a gypsy cab, takes me down from Harlem to the Brooklyn Bridge
Someone sleeps tonight with a hunger far more than an empty fridge
[Pre-Chorus]
I'ma make it by any means (Come on)
I got a pocketful of dreams (Come on)

[Chorus]
Baby, I'm from New York (Oh, yeah)
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of (Oh, come on)
There's nothin' you can't do (Come on)
Now you're in New York (Oh, yeah)
These streets will make you feel brand-new (Oh, come on)
Big lights will inspire you (Big shine)
Hear it for New York (Uh), New York (Yeah), New York (Uh)

[Bridge]
One hand in the air for the big city (Uh)
Street lights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty (Yeah)
No place in the world that can compare (Uh)
Put your lighters in the air
Everybody say, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah"


[Chorus]
In New York (Oh, yeah)
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of (Oh, come on)
There's nothin' you can't do (Come on)
Now you're in New York (Oh, yeah)
These streets will make you feel brand-new (Oh, come on)
Big lights will inspire you (Big shine)
Hear it for New York

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About

Genius Annotation

“Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down” is the second single from The Element Of Freedom. The song is an answer song to the commercially successful hit single “Empire State of Mind” by Jay Z, which also features Keys.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Alicia Keys say about "Empire State of Mind, Part II (Broken Down)"?
Genius Answer

I definitely wanted to give my version of it and my vision of how I see New York and how it feels to me. I wanted to do it for my style—more broken down, more on piano, more voice and intimacy—so that’s what I did. I imagined, ‘If I was able to sing this whole song, how would I do it?’ So I just sat down at my piano and I kind of broke it down and started singing about New York as I see it, and it turned out great.

Live Performance
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Live | iHeartRadio Concerts

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Live BET COVID-19 Relief Effort

Live at 2021 MTV VMAs

Live at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball 2023
Credits
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Recorded At
Oven Studios (New York City)
Released on
February 22, 2010
Empire State of Mind, Part II (Broken Down) Is A Remix Of
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