Life and death in an alley way Just a heartbeat away from a ma-a-an Who's learned to turn his head away From the pai-ain that drai-ains the la-and Harlem's not too far from here You can smell the garbage feel the fear I hear they're gonna build a skyscraper there-ere As if we didn't need the extra air-air New York City blue-ues In order to wi-in you've got to lo-o-ose Old before your ti-ime The dirt and the gri-ime get into everythi-ing And the papers love to say-ay-ay It's the meanest town in the USA But I think it's okay It's the town I've ma-ade my home On another side of Park Avenue Respectable folks don't know-ow-ow Hungry eyes take in the view Of the wor-orld that lay-ays them low-ow Too many years on a welfare line The old song and da-ance ti-ime after time You can only get so pushed arou-ound Until you wanna tear the damn thing dow-own New York City blue-ues In order to wi-in you've got to lo-ose Old before your ti-i-ime The dirt and the gri-ime get into everythi-ing And the papers love to say-ay-ay It's the meanest town in the USA-a But I think it's okay It's the town I've made my ho-o-ome New York City blue-ues In order to wi-in you've got to lo-ose Old before your ti-i-ime The dirt and the gri-ime get into everythi-i-ing And the papers love to say-ay-ay It's the meanest town in the USA-a But I think it's okay It's the town I've ma-ade my ho-o-ome