Don’t Ever Change Me, New York City

[Verse 1]
I was born and raised in an English garden, in Missouri
Moved down here to Brooklyn in a whirlwind back 5 years ago
Country simpleton, Midwest small town walking archetype
Working amongst the skyscrapers, restless as the winter
And I promised myself that I would never be a sellout
And I promised myself that I would never be a fake

[Chorus]
Don't ever change me, New York City
'Cause I'm uncomfortable around money
I'm uncomfortable around politicians
Don't ever change me, New York City
'Cause I'm uncomfortable around money
I'm uncomfortable around artificial people

[Verse 2]
You know, last week, at the annual meeting
I was drunk on cash bar whiskey
Alex, you said you were miserable, and going to quit your job here
You said that your cruel boss was slowly grinding you down
Maybe I commiserated with you? Maybe I felt the same way?
And I promised myself that I would never be a peon
And i promised myself that I would never be a fool

[Chorus] (blind ambition)

[Verse 3]
Lately, I'm tired of trying to be New York thin like everybody else
I've had weight fluctuations and felt bad about myself
I don't know when it is I got so obsessed with stuff like that
But it's up there on the billboard, those beautiful people watching me
And I promised you that I would never be that shallow
And I promised you that I would never be that vain

[Chorus] (beautiful people)

[Verse 4]
I'm seeing a beautiful man from just a 15 minute walk from here
I honestly don't know what I would do without him here
I still cringe when I recall single life in the city
Cynical and wasted, crying there on the concrete
And I promised myself that I would never be a drifter
And I promised myself that I would never die alone

[Chorus] (financiers)