28 Songs That Celebrate New York

This year marks 20 years since the horrific terrorist attacks on 9/11, and as the last two decades have passed, we must never forget.

After planes crashed into New York City’s World Trade Center, as well as attacks on the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, nearly 3,000 people were killed, and left countless others injured. First responders worked tirelessly to rescue and save as many lives as possible as they tried to get through all of the debris. It was a day that can never be forgotten.

Since then, NYC has rebuilt itself in all of its resilience as it truly is one of the most inspiring cities. From Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ anthem “Empire State of Mind” to Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind,” over the years there have been may songs that celebrate New York. In honor of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, we’re taking a look back at some tracks that have honored the city in song. 

1. “Empire State of Mind” - JAY-Z feat. Alicia Keys

Lyric: "Yeah, I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca / Right next to DeNiro, but I’ll be hood forever / I’m the new Sinatra, and since I made it here / I can make it anywhere, yeah, they love me everywhere"

2. “New York” - St. Vincent

Lyric: “New York isn’t New York without you love / Too few of our old crew left on Astor”

3. “New New York” - Cranberries

Lyric: “New New York skyline / Wounds may heal in time / Don't crumble don't dismay / It's a new New York today”

4. “Coney Island” - Good Old War

Lyric: “I'm going to Coney Island , to have myself a dog / And reminisce why I still hate it here / It's all these people with their cotton candy eyes / It's so sweet now put the train in gear”

5. “New York City” - The Chainsmokers

Lyric: “New York City, please go easy on this heart of mine / ‘Cause I'm losing my lover to the arms of another / New York City, please go easy on me tonight”

6. “New York” - Ed Sheeran

Lyric: “Do you wanna go home so soon? / Or maybe we should take a ride through the night / And sing along to every song that's on the radio / In the back of a taxi cab in Brooklyn”

7. “New York at Night” - Old Dominion

Lyric: “New York at night / (I ain't gonna be sleeping) / New York at night / (Girl you got me feeling) / Empire high / That uptown something / It’s got me coming alive / Baby you're like / New York at night”

8. “New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down” - LCD Soundsystem

Lyric: “Like a rat in a cage / Pulling minimum wage / New York, I love you but you're bringing me down”

9. “New York State of Mind” - Billy Joel

Lyric: “Some folks like to get away, take a holiday from the neighborhood / Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood / But I'm taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River line / I'm in a New York state of mind”

10. “Welcome to New York” - Taylor Swift

Lyric: “The lights are so bright / But they never blind me / Welcome to New York! / It's been waiting for you”

11. “Ever Since New York” - Harry Styles

Lyric: “Brooklyn saw me, empty at the news / There's no water inside this swimming pool / Almost over, had enough from you”

12. “6PM In New York” - Drake

Lyric: “And head to toe I'm Prada covered / I know your girl well, just not in public / Blame the city, I'm a product of it”

13. “New York City Cops” - The Strokes

Lyric: “New York City cops, New York City cops / New York City cops, but they ain't too smart”

14. “Brooklyn Baby” - Lana Del Rey

Lyric: “I've got feathers in my hair / I get down to Beat poetry / And my jazz collection's rare / I can play most anything / I'm a Brooklyn baby”

15. “Brooklyn’s Own” - Joey Bada$$

Lyric: “Yeah man I’m from Marcy, so the fact I made it here / Should in fact be haunting, cause I can make it anywhere”

16. “Brooklyn, You’re Killing Me” - Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness

Lyric: “Brooklyn, Brooklyn, my dear / Brooklyn, my dear, you're killing me”

17. “No Sleep Til Brooklyn” - The Beastie Boys

Lyric: “Born and bred Brooklyn USA / They call me Adam Yauch but I'm MCA”

18. “Leaving New York” - R.E.M.

Lyric: “It's easier to leave than to be left behind / Leaving was never my proud / Leaving New York, never easy / I saw the light fading out”

19. “I Love New York” - Madonna

Lyric: “I don't like cities / But I like New York / Other places make me feel like a dork / Los Angeles is for people who sleep / Paris and London / Baby you can keep”

20. “Autumn In New York” - Billie Holiday

Lyric: “Autumn in New York / Why does it seem so inviting / Autumn in New York / It spells the thrill of first-nighting”

21. “N.Y. State of Mind” - NAS

Lyric: “New York state of mind”

22. “New York, New York” - Ryan Adams

Lyric: “The world won't wait, so I better shake / That thing right out there through the door / Hell, I still love you, New York”

23. “Harlem” - New Politics

Lyric: “When it gets loud, I turn it up / Oh shake it like a bad girl up in Harlem”

24. “Coney Island” - Death Cab For Cutie

Lyric: “And everything was closed at Coney Island / And I could not help from smiling / Brooklyn will fill the beach eventually / And everyone will go except me”

25. “Manhattan” - Sara Bareilles

Lyric: “You can have Manhattan / I know it’s what you want / The bustle and the buildings / The weather in the fall / And I’ll bow out of place / To save you some space / For somebody new”

26. “Brooklyn’s Finest” - JAY-Z

Lyric: “I'm from Marcy, I'm varsity, chump, you're JV”

27. “New York, New York” - Frank Sinatra

Lyric: “If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere / It's up to you, New York, New York”

28. “Chelsea Morning” - Joni Mitchell

Lyric: “Pretty baby, won't you / Wake up, it's a Chelsea morning”