Down and Out In New York City
James Brown
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Say brother, can I borrow a thin brother You know, a dime? Say it, say it, say it sis I'd sure like to have this little dime for me So I can get this cup of coffee Cop me a snack, somethin' I guess I better quit tryin' to be hip and get on down Yea man, like, you know I was born in New York City on a Monday It seems I was out shinin' shoes 'bout two to noon All the fat cats, in the bad hats doing me a real big favor Got the fat cats, in the bad hats laying it on real good Here's a dime boy, give me a shine boy When the cold wind comes, it live at New York City And the street's no place to be but there you are So you try hard, or you die hard No one really gives a good damn You try hard, and you die hard No one gives a damn Here's a dime boy, give me a shine boy [?] in New York City Ain't no way to be, but where can you go? When you're down and out in New York City I'm never, never, never gonna get that way again, ow No, no, no No, no, not me When you need a friend [?] When you want a friend Gonna get myself together 'til the mornin' Gonna leave it all and a one bad dream All the fat cats, in the bad hats doing me a real big favor Got the fat cats, in the bad hats, laying it on real good Here's a dime boy, give me a shine boy, wow, ow, yeah Give me a shine boy
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Written by: BARRY DE VORZON, BODIE CHANDLER
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Background"Down And Out In New York City" is a soul/funk song by American singer James Brown. It was released in 1973 and is featured on the soundtrack for the movie "Black Caesar".
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Film InfluenceThe song was specifically written for the blaxploitation crime drama film "Black Caesar", which was also known as "The Godfather of Harlem".
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Album PerformanceThe soundtrack album featuring this song reached number 11 on the Billboard 200 and got to the Number 2 spot on Billboard's R&B chart. This goes to show its popularity during that time.
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Historic SuccessBeyond the song's performance in charts, the film and its soundtrack are famously known as Brown's first foray into film scoring.
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Unique ThemeThe song offers a narrative of survival in New York city and highlights James Brown's timeless ability to create songs that resonate with the struggle of African American men in a white-dominated society.
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Song ContributorsThe song was written by Bodie Chandler and Barry De Vorzon. It was arranged by Fred Wesley, the leader of James Brown's backing band The J.B.'s.
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Notable InstrumentationThe song, along with the rest of the soundtrack, features the vast orchestration of James Brown and Fred Wesley, which was a departure from Brown's usual straight funk and soul sound.
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Released UnderThe song, as part of the album "Black Caesar", was released under Polydor Records, a British-German multinational label that contributed to James Brown's international reach.
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Cover VersionsA number of musicians and artists have covered the song over the years, including Bill Moss in 1973 and the Turkish singer Ersen in 1974.
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Soundtrack CompositionApart from this song, the rest of the album also includes instrumental pieces, along with reinterpretations of previous James Brown hits. However, "Down and Out in New York City" remains a standout for its innovative lyrics and emotive performance.
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Citation
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"Down and Out In New York City Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/27534611/James+Brown/Down+and+Out+In+New+York+City>.
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