Released: October 13, 1987
Featuring: Branford Marsalis Manu Katché Mino Cinelu
Songwriter: Sting
Producer: Neil Dorfsman Sting
[Verse 1]
I don't drink coffee, I'll take tea my dear
I like my toast done on one side
And you can hear it in my accent when I talk
I'm an Englishman in New York
[Verse 2]
See me walking down Fifth Avenue
A walking cane here at my side
I take it everywhere I walk
I'm an Englishman in New York
[Chorus]
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
[Verse 3]
If "manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself, no matter what they say
[Chorus]
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
[Bridge]
Modesty, propriety, can lead to notoriety
You could end up as the only one
Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society
At night a candle's brighter than the sun
[Saxophone solo followed by drums]
[Verse 4]
Takes more than combat gear to make a man
Takes more than a license for a gun
Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can
A gentleman will walk but never run
[Verse 3]
If "manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself, no matter what they say
Be yourself, no matter what they say
Be yourself, no matter what they say
Be yourself, no matter what they say
Be yourself, no matter what they say
[Chorus]
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
[Outro]
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
(Be yourself, no matter what they say)
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
(Be yourself, no matter what they say)
I'm an Englishman in New York
I don't drink coffee, I'll take tea my dear
I like my toast done on one side
And you can hear it in my accent when I talk
I'm an Englishman in New York
[Verse 2]
See me walking down Fifth Avenue
A walking cane here at my side
I take it everywhere I walk
I'm an Englishman in New York
[Chorus]
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
[Verse 3]
If "manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself, no matter what they say
[Chorus]
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
[Bridge]
Modesty, propriety, can lead to notoriety
You could end up as the only one
Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society
At night a candle's brighter than the sun
[Saxophone solo followed by drums]
[Verse 4]
Takes more than combat gear to make a man
Takes more than a license for a gun
Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can
A gentleman will walk but never run
[Verse 3]
If "manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself, no matter what they say
Be yourself, no matter what they say
Be yourself, no matter what they say
Be yourself, no matter what they say
Be yourself, no matter what they say
[Chorus]
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
[Outro]
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
(Be yourself, no matter what they say)
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
(Be yourself, no matter what they say)
I'm an Englishman in New York
more tracks from the album
Symphonicities
- Englishman in New York
- You Will Be My Ain True Love
- Why Should I Cry for You?
- Whenever I Say Your Name
- I Burn for You
- We Work the Black Seam
- When We Dance
- Roxanne
- I Hung My Head
- She’s Too Good for Me
- The Pirate’s Bride
- The End of the Game
- Straight to My Heart
- Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
- Next to You
From the albums
- ...Nothing Like the Sun (1987)
- NOW That’s What I Call Music! 18 [UK] (1990)
- Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984–1994 (1994)
- At the Movies (1997)
- Symphonicities (2010)
Sting popular songs
- Shape of My Heart
- Englishman in New York
- Desert Rose
- Fields of Gold
- Fragile
- Russians
- It’s Probably Me
- If I Ever Lose My Faith in You
- Brand New Day
- Seven Days
- Mad About You
- A Thousand Years
- Soul Cake
- I Can’t Stop Thinking About You
- If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
- All This Time
- When We Dance
- If It’s Love
- The Last Ship
- Fortress Around Your Heart
- Children’s Crusade
- Moon Over Bourbon Street
- Synchronicity I
- Giacomo’s Blues