Released: October 7, 2005

Songwriter: Alicia Keys Taneisha Smith DJ Premier Eric B. Rakim Nas

Producer: Alex Coletti DJ Premier

[Spoken Intro]
Here I am, here we are
As it will go on forever
Noise, always noise
Candles burn, lights are low
I haven't a place to go
Life in its constant state of moving nowhere
The music is nice, floats through the air
Sounds of waves crashing everywhere
Percussive submissions, mind conditions
Writing with the left hand
Unknowing and taking the chance
Why not fly? Why not try?
This constant game I play to stay high
But all is just a state of mind
All is reality of your choice
Constant evolution, constant adaptation
Constant state of moving nowhere
Footsteps, silence is loud
Kindness is brave, wisdom is long
Loving is necessary, I need it, we need it
Searching, looking for the satisfaction
It is nowhere, it is everywhere
Preaching, pleading, praying for God to come
What are we waiting for?
Why are we so afraid of taking charge?
But it's always changing, always
In the constant state of going nowhere
We all have demons to battle, roads to walk
Crosses to bear, mistakes and sins
Candles and their steady glow
Water and its constant crash
Endless horizon, rocks of times long gone
Still strong, still here, and so are we
Here we are, forever
The constant state of going nowhere
The constant state of going nowhere
Constant state of going nowhere
Con-con-constant state of moving nowhere
Constant state of moving nowhere

It's like a jungle
It's like a jungle

[Verse 1]
It's like a jungle out here, so much struggle out here
And my dreams steal my rest, sleep's the cousin of death
Always feels like a race against father time
In the streets of New York
All I see is street hoes, and bullet holes in my people
Only crime fills the brain, feels like I'm going insane
The revolution has to start, don't waste no time
In the streets of New York
Uh, uh, uh, yeah

[Chorus]
New York, New York, New York, New York, New York City
(Where we at, where we at, huh?)
New York, New York, New York, New York, New York City
(New York)
New York, New York, New York, New York, New York City
(Oh oh oh)
New York, New York, New York, New York, New York City
(Come on, come on, we just)

[Bridge]
Livin' in the city
Livin' in the city
(New York)
New York, New York City
(New York)
Livin' in the city
Livin' in the city
(In the city)
Livin' in the city
New York, New York City
Livin' in the city
(Come on now)
Livin' in the city
(Come on now)
Livin' in the city
(Where we at now?)
New York, New York City
(New York)
Livin' in the city
Livin' in the city

[Outro dialogue: Alicia Keys & Adam Levine]
Yeah, yeah, New York City
Thank you
Feels so appropriate
So, so appropriate
I'm gonna bring out a very special young gentleman who's going to sing with me
It's a very special song
I wanna bring out Adam Levine of Maroon 5, ladies and gentlemen
Yeah
Beautiful
I just wanna say, doesn't she look and sound perfect this evening?
Tryna melt my heart, look at that, thank you
We're gonna sing a beautiful song by the name of "Wild Horses"
We love this song
Ah, shall we?

Alicia Keys

Gifted with one of the finest voices of the early 21st century and exceptional talent, the famed Alicia Keys is a recognized, award-winning R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer. She was born on January 25, 1981 in New York.

Her debut album Songs in A Minor launched her career as she became the best-selling new artist of 2001. Her follow-up album The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003) and her album for the MTV Unplugged series in 2005 further cemented her at the top of the pop and R&B game. Her biggest hits are powerful ballads like “Fallin',” “If I Ain’t Got You,” and “No One.”

On January 15, 2019 Pop/R&B legend and 15-time GRAMMY winner Alicia Keys was announced as the host of the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards. This will be the first time Keys has been the master of ceremonies for Music’s Biggest Night.