Empire State Of Mind – English Lyrics

• By: JAY-Z, Alicia Keys

Lyrics & Translation

Want to dive into the vibrant rhythm of New York City and enrich your English language skills? "Empire State of Mind" by JAY-Z and Alicia Keys is your perfect gateway! This powerful anthem not only offers a captivating narrative of ambition and urban life but also introduces you to rich English vocabulary, idioms, and cultural references tied to one of the world's most dynamic cities. Through its evocative lyrics and celebrated chorus, you'll experience the blend of street-smart prose and poetic aspiration that makes New York, and this song, truly special and inspiring for language learners worldwide.

[English]

(Empire State Of Mind by Jay Z ft. Alicia Keys)

♪ Yeah I'm out that Brooklyn now I'm down in Tribeca ♪

♪ Right next to De Niro but I'll be hood forever ♪

♪ I'm the new Sinatra and since I made it here ♪

♪ I can make it anywhere yeah they love me everywhere ♪

♪ I used to cop in Harlem ♪

♪ Hola my Dominicanos ♪

♪ Right there up on Broadway ♪

♪ Brought me back to that McDonald's ♪

♪ Took it to my stash spot 560 State Street ♪

♪ Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons whipping pastry ♪

♪ Cruising down 8th Street off-white Lexus ♪

♪ Driving so slow but BK is from Texas ♪

♪ Me I'm out that Bed-Stuy home of that boy Biggie ♪

♪ Now I live on Billboard and I brought my boys with me ♪

♪ Say what up to Ty Ty still sipping Mai Tais ♪

♪ Sitting courtside Knicks and Nets give me high fives ♪

♪ I be spiked out I could trip a referee ♪

♪ Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from ♪

♪ In New York ♪

♪ Concrete jungle where dreams are made of ♪

♪ There's nothing you can't do ♪

♪ Now you're in New York ♪

♪ These streets will make you feel brand-new ♪

♪ Big lights will inspire you ♪

♪ Let's hear it for New York ♪

♪ New York New York ♪

♪ Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game ♪

♪ I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can ♪

♪ You should know I bleed blue but I ain't a Crip though ♪

♪ But I got a gang of walking with my clique though ♪

♪ Welcome to the melting pot ♪

♪ Corners where we're selling ♪

♪ Africa Bambaataa home of the hip-hop ♪

♪ Yellow cab gypsy cab dollar cab holler back ♪

♪ For foreigners it ain't fair ♪

♪ They act like they forgot how to add ♪

♪ Eight million stories out there in the naked ♪

♪ City it's a pity half of y'all won't make it ♪

♪ Me I gotta plug Special Ed I Got It Made ♪

♪ If Jeezy's paying LeBron I'm paying Dwyane Wade ♪

♪ Three dice cee-lo three-card Marley ♪

♪ Labor Day Parade rest in peace Bob Marley ♪

♪ Statue of Liberty long live the World Trade ♪

♪ Long live the king yo ♪

♪ I'm from the Empire State that's ♪

♪ In New York ♪

♪ Concrete jungle where dreams are made of ♪

♪ There's nothing you can't do ♪

♪ Now you're in New York ♪

♪ These streets will make you feel brand-new ♪

♪ Big lights will inspire you ♪

♪ Let's hear it for New York ♪

♪ New York New York ♪

♪ Lights is blinding girls need blinders ♪

♪ So they can step out of bounds quick the side lines is ♪

♪ Lined with casualties who sip the life casually ♪

♪ Then gradually become worse ♪

♪ Don't bite the apple Eve ♪

♪ Caught up in the in-crowd now you're in-style ♪

♪ Into the winter gets cold en vogue with your skin out ♪

♪ City of sin is a pity on a whim ♪

♪ Good girls gone bad the city's filled with them ♪

♪ Mami took a bus trip now she got her bust out ♪

♪ Everybody ride her just like a bus route ♪

♪ Hail Mary to the city you're a virgin ♪

♪ And Jesus can't save you life starts when the church end ♪

♪ Came here for school graduated to the high life ♪

♪ Ball players rap stars addicted to the limelight ♪

♪ MDMA got you feeling like a champion ♪

♪ The city never sleeps better slip you're a Ambien ♪

♪ In New York ♪

♪ Concrete jungle where dreams are made of ♪

♪ There's nothing you can't do ♪

♪ Now you're in New York ♪

♪ These streets will make you feel brand-new ♪

♪ Big lights will inspire you ♪

♪ Let's hear it for New York ♪

♪ New York New York ♪

♪ One hand in the air for the big city ♪

♪ Street lights big dreams all looking pretty ♪

♪ No place in the world that could compare ♪

♪ Put your lighters in the air everybody say ♪

♪ Yeah yeah ♪

♪ Yeah yeah ♪

♪ In New York ♪

♪ Concrete jungle where dreams are made of ♪

♪ There's nothing you can't do ♪

♪ Now you're in New York ♪

♪ These streets will make you feel brand-new ♪

♪ Big lights will inspire you ♪

♪ Let's hear it for New York ♪

♪ New York New York ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
inspire /ɪnˈspaɪr/ B2	verb - to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative
concrete /ˈkɒŋkriːt/ A2	adjective - relating to a real, physical thing or specific example noun - a building material made from cement, sand, gravel, and water
jungle /ˈdʒʌŋɡl/ A1	noun - a dense forest in a tropical region
brand-new /brænd nuː/ A1	adjective - completely new
lights /laɪts/ A1	noun - a source of illumination
melting /ˈmɛltɪŋ/ A2	verb - to become liquefied by heat
pot /pɒt/ A1	noun - a container, typically made of metal or pottery, used for cooking
casually /ˈkæʒuəli/ B1	adverb - in a relaxed and informal way
gradually /ˈɡrædʒuəli/ B1	adverb - happening or developing slowly over time
limelight /ˈlaɪmlaɪt/ B2	noun - a focus of public attention or interest
blinding /ˈblaɪndɪŋ/ B1	adjective - extremely bright, so as to obscure vision
boundaries /ˈbaʊndəriz/ B1	noun - a line that marks the limits of an area
casually /ˈkæʒuəli/ B1	adverb - in a relaxed and informal way
vogue /voʊɡ/ B2	noun - the prevailing fashion or style
whim /hwɪm/ B2	noun - a sudden desire or change of mind, especially one that is unusual or unexplained
route /ruːt/ A1	noun - a way or course taken in getting from a starting point to a destination
virgin /ˈvɜːrdʒɪn/ A2	noun - a person who has never had sexual intercourse
champion /ˈtʃæmpiən/ A2	noun - a person who has defeated all opponents in a competition
slip /slɪp/ A2	verb - to slide out of position or fall
ambien /ˈæmbiən/ C1	noun - a sedative medication used to treat insomnia