New York City
John Lennon · Lennon - Signature Box [2010]
Just me and Yoko Ono
We was waiting for jerry to land
Up come a man with the guitar in his hand
Singing "have a marijuana if you can"
His name was Davis Peel
And we found that he was real
He sangs"The pope smokes dope everyday"
Up come a police man shoved us up the street
Singin, "power to the people today!"
NYC...NYC...NYC
Que pasa Ny?...Que pasa NY?
Well we went to max's
Kansas City
Got down the nitty gritty
With the Elephants Memory Band
Laid something down
As the news spread around
About the Plastic Ono
Elephants Memory Band!
Well we played some funky boogie
And laid some tutti frutti
Singing "Long tall sally's a man"
Up come a preachman trying to be a teacher
Singing "God's a red herring in grag!"
NYC...NYC...NYC
Que pasa Ny?...Que pasa NY?
Well we did the Staten Island Ferry
Making movies for the telly
Played the fillmore and
Apollo for freedom,
Tried to shake our image
Just a cycling through the village
But found that we had left it back in London.
Well nobody came to bug us, hustle ud or shove us
so we decided to make it our home
If the man wants to shove us out
We gonna jump and shout
The Statue of Liberty said, "come!"
NYC...NYC...NYC
Que pasa Ny?...Que pasa NY?
NYC down in the village
What a bad-ass city!
Que pasa Ny?...Que pasa NY?
New York City - John Lennon
Released on the 2010 Signature Box compilation, 'New York City' stands as a poignant reflection on the urban landscape that deeply influenced John Lennon's early career. The track captures the energy and melancholy of the metropolis, blending folk-rock sensibilities with Lennon's signature vocal delivery. As part of his broader discography, the song serves as a bridge between his solo explorations and his collaborative work with The Beatles, showcasing his enduring ability to translate the human experience into music. The recording highlights the atmospheric quality of his songwriting during this period, offering listeners a glimpse into the city's spirit through a lens of introspection and observation.