New York City

Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - “New York City”
[Vocals/Lyrics By/Music By: Gil Scott-Heron]
[Piano/Electric Piano/Vocals: Brian Jackson]
[Vocals: Victor Brown]
[Co-Producer: Tom Wilson]
[Bongos/Congas/Timbales: Tony Duncanson]
[Congas/Percussion: Barnett Williams]
[Electric Bass/Vocals: Danny Bowens]
[Tenor Saxophone/Flute: Bilal Sunni-Ali]
[Traps/Percussion: Reggie Brisbane]
[Trumpet: Delbert Taylor]

[Verse 1: Gil Scott-Heron]
New York City
I don’t know why I love you
Maybe it’s because you’re mine
Like so many others, I found it all too easy
To stand off at a distance and criticize
But there ain’t nothing wrong with the city
Just some people been wronged there like everywhere else

[Verse 2: Gil Scott-Heron]
New York City
I don’t know why I love you
Could be you remind me of myself
And I’ve been broke and criticized
And I’ve been pushed off to the side
I’ve been kicked when I was damn near out
But I’ve always felt inside
Like New York City, misused and mistreated
And run with when the running was good
And ignoring the beatings absorbed by those who live there
And the gangsters keeping the books
No, there ain’t nothing wrong with the city
Just some people been running it and running it, running it to death

[Verse 3: Gil Scott-Heron]
New York City
I don’t know why I love you, but
It could be you remind me of myself, uh huh

[Interlude: Gil Scott-Heron]
Yeah, come on in here with the sticks, Timbale Man

[Verse 4: Gil Scott-Heron]
The sounds of the city
Transport you around the Sun—feels warm
The music from every nation
It helps make the island one, uh huh
It’s home to both tramp and artist
And dreamers from everywhere
But, most of all, kind-hearted people
Whose stories ain’t on the air

[Verse 5: Gil Scott-Heron]
New York City
I don’t know why I love you
Maybe it’s because you’re mine
Like so many others, I found it all too easy
To stand off at a distance and criticize
But there ain’t nothing wrong with the city
Just some people been wronged there like everywhere else

[Verse 6: Gil Scott-Heron]
New York City
I don’t know why I love you
Could be you remind me of myself
And I’ve been broke and criticized, understand
And I’ve been pushed off to the side
I’ve been kicked when I was damn near out
But I’ve always felt inside
Like New York City
I don’t know why I love you
Something inside of me I feel
New York City
I don’t know why I love you
I don’t know why I love you, but it’s real
I don’t know why I love you, but it’s real
I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know
Yeah, I don’t know why I love you, but it’s real