A Native New Yorker

Friday, March 25, 2005

When I was growing up, my Studio 54-dancing single mother would play the song "Native New Yorker" by the musical group Odyssey. Both of us being born in New York it was appropriate. Recently I downloaded the song to my iPod and last week when I was on the subway I really listened to the lyrics for the first time and they are depressing! Despite the upbeat disco sound the lyrics are proud but also cynical.
Below are the lyrics and I uploaded the song to my server, click HERE to play. Enjoy!

Runnin' pretty, New York City girl
Twenty-five, thirty-five
Hello, baby, New York City girl
You grew up ridin' the subways, running with people
Up in Harlem, down on Broadway
You're no tramp, but you're no lady, talkin' that street talk
You're the heart and soul of New York City

And love, love is just a passing word
It's the thought that you had in a taxi cab that got left on the curb
When he dropped you off and he stated firm

Oh, oh, oh [Oh, oh, oh]
You're a native New Yorker
You should know the score by now
You're a native New Yorker

New York girl, ooh, ooh, ooh

Music plays, everyone's dancin'
closer and closer
Makin' friends and findin' lovers
There you are lost in the shadows,
searchin' for someone
To set you free from New York City
And, whoa, where did all those yesterdays go?
When you still believed love could really be like a Broadway show
You are the star, win the applause

Oh, oh, oh [Oh, oh, oh]
You're a native New Yorker
No one opens the door
For a native New Yorker

You're a native New Yorker
You should know the score by now
You're a native New Yorker

What you waitin' for, no one opens the door
[You're a native New Yorker]
For a native, for a native New Yorker
--
Want another free mp3s?
Check out this old post for Tori Alamaze's, Don't Ya!
and go HERE for Nitty's Nasty Girl MP3