New York City: Beyond the Picture [#dotchallenge - Round 9]

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[INTRO — 124 BPM, catchy teen-pop piano, punchy drums, panoramic synth pads]

I'm his old cap, right by his side,
Since twenty-sixteen, along for the ride.
Faded navy, yellow five, year after year,
He straightens out my brim and keeps me near.

We sailed from Rotterdam across the sea,
(Manhattan! That's N-Y-C!)
Past Lady Liberty, the harbor opens wide,
He taps my brim; I feel his growing pride.

[VERSE 1 — Bouncy teen-pop beat, glassy synths, jazzy piano]

Past subway turnstiles, down the stairs we go,
The MTA trains rumble down below.
He checks the route; his screen is glowing blue,
A tired cook nods off for a stop or two.

At Times Square, he holds up his phone,
(One more shot! That sign alone!)
A cleaner wheels her cart across the square,
His photo leaves her out, though she's right there.

[PRE-CHORUS — Rising synth arpeggios, handclaps, pop harmonies]

I shade his eyes against the glare,
Can't make him notice who's working there.
He's just excited, thrilled to be
Right in the heart of N-Y-C!

[CHORUS — Huge teen-pop hook, soaring synths, NYC brass accents]

Hey, hey, N-Y-C!
Everybody wants a piece of me!
He sees the sights, I see the street,
Two different worlds beneath his feet!

Hey, hey, N-Y-C!
(This city's everything to me!)
He sees the dream, I see the cost:
The faces missed, the stories lost!

[POST-CHORUS — Two-bar melodic phrasing per long line, sax riff, claps]

Skyscrapers up high! Trains down low!
There's more to this city than the billboards show!
Hey, hey, N-Y-C!
There's more to this city than the eye can see!

[VERSE 2 — Driving teen pop, bright piano, rhythmic brass]

Down on Delancey, we're standin' on line,
(Grab the camera! Look at that sign!)
The bodega clerk points across the street,
To a shuttered shop where neighbors used to meet.

"TWENTY YEARS — THANK YOU," taped to the door,
The landlord raised the rent; they couldn't pay more.
I've got a bill that shields his face,
The rent went up; they lost that place.

[PRE-CHORUS — Bright pop lift, handclaps, wide harmonies]

That yellow five's been mine for years,
Through all our travels, laughs and tears.
He calls me New York; it's the name he chose,
I've been beside him wherever he goes.

[CHORUS — Full teen-pop hook, panoramic synths, punchy brass]

Hey, hey, N-Y-C!
Everybody wants a piece of me!
He sees the sights, I see the street,
Two different worlds beneath his feet!

Hey, hey, N-Y-C!
(This city's everything to me!)
He sees the dream, I see the cost:
The faces missed, the stories lost!

[POST-CHORUS — Two-bar phrasing, rhythmic claps, bright sax and synths]

Skyscrapers up high! Trains down low!
There's more to this city than the billboards show!
Hey, hey, N-Y-C!
There's more to this city than the eye can see!

[VERSE 3 — LIBERTY ISLAND, melodic teen pop, hopeful strings]

From the Battery, we cross the bay,
(That's Lady Liberty! No way!)
He tips my brim to see her face,
Her torch held high above this place.

He reads of shackles at her feet,
Of freedom's promise still incomplete.
He gets to travel, free to roam;
They lost the shop they'd called their second home.

[BRIDGE — Intimate crooner over pop piano and soft pads]

Hold up — who am I to judge this city?
I've seen so little — that's the pity.
He leaves a worker out of frame;
I turn that worker into a claim.

Ten years with him, and I still can't see
Every worry he keeps from me.
Her life goes on beyond my view;
I've got blind spots in my stitching, too.

[BREAKDOWN — Soft pop pulse, East River ambience, warm piano]

At Brooklyn Bridge Park, he puts his phone away,
(No picture. I just wanna stay.)
An East River ferry passes near,
Who's heading home? I can't tell from here.

He sets my crooked brim just right,
We watch the ferry fade from sight.

[FINAL CHORUS — Euphoric teen pop, soaring synths, full brass]

Hey, hey, N-Y-C!
Everybody wants a piece of me!
He sees the sights, I see the street,
Two different worlds beneath his feet!

Hey, hey, N-Y-C!
(This city's everything to me!)
He sees the dream, I see the cost:
The faces missed, the stories lost!

[FINAL POST-CHORUS — Two-bar phrasing, sparkling synths, sax, claps]

Skyscrapers up high! Trains down low!
There's more to this city than the billboards show!
Hey, hey, N-Y-C!
There's more to this city than the eye can see!

[OUTRO — Warm crooner, gentle piano, fading city ambience]

Ten years together, still faded blue,
One more city changed my view.
He'll take me home when our trip is through;
But who gets to stay when the rent comes due?

4502/7500

[INTRO — 124 BPM, catchy teen-pop piano, punchy drums, panoramic synth pads] I'm his old cap, right by his side, Since twenty-sixteen, along for the ride. Faded navy, yellow five, year after year, He straightens out my brim and keeps me near. We sailed from Rotterdam across the sea, (Manhattan! That's N-Y-C!) Past Lady Liberty, the harbor opens wide, He taps my brim; I feel his growing pride. [VERSE 1 — Bouncy teen-pop beat, glassy synths, jazzy piano] Past subway turnstiles, down the stairs we go, The MTA trains rumble down below. He checks the route; his screen is glowing blue, A tired cook nods off for a stop or two. At Times Square, he holds up his phone, (One more shot! That sign alone!) A cleaner wheels her cart across the square, His photo leaves her out, though she's right there. [PRE-CHORUS — Rising synth arpeggios, handclaps, pop harmonies] I shade his eyes against the glare, Can't make him notice who's working there. He's just excited, thrilled to be Right in the heart of N-Y-C! [CHORUS — Huge teen-pop hook, soaring synths, NYC brass accents] Hey, hey, N-Y-C! Everybody wants a piece of me! He sees the sights, I see the street, Two different worlds beneath his feet! Hey, hey, N-Y-C! (This city's everything to me!) He sees the dream, I see the cost: The faces missed, the stories lost! [POST-CHORUS — Two-bar melodic phrasing per long line, sax riff, claps] Skyscrapers up high! Trains down low! There's more to this city than the billboards show! Hey, hey, N-Y-C! There's more to this city than the eye can see! [VERSE 2 — Driving teen pop, bright piano, rhythmic brass] Down on Delancey, we're standin' on line, (Grab the camera! Look at that sign!) The bodega clerk points across the street, To a shuttered shop where neighbors used to meet. "TWENTY YEARS — THANK YOU," taped to the door, The landlord raised the rent; they couldn't pay more. I've got a bill that shields his face, The rent went up; they lost that place. [PRE-CHORUS — Bright pop lift, handclaps, wide harmonies] That yellow five's been mine for years, Through all our travels, laughs and tears. He calls me New York; it's the name he chose, I've been beside him wherever he goes. [CHORUS — Full teen-pop hook, panoramic synths, punchy brass] Hey, hey, N-Y-C! Everybody wants a piece of me! He sees the sights, I see the street, Two different worlds beneath his feet! Hey, hey, N-Y-C! (This city's everything to me!) He sees the dream, I see the cost: The faces missed, the stories lost! [POST-CHORUS — Two-bar phrasing, rhythmic claps, bright sax and synths] Skyscrapers up high! Trains down low! There's more to this city than the billboards show! Hey, hey, N-Y-C! There's more to this city than the eye can see! [VERSE 3 — LIBERTY ISLAND, melodic teen pop, hopeful strings] From the Battery, we cross the bay, (That's Lady Liberty! No way!) He tips my brim to see her face, Her torch held high above this place. He reads of shackles at her feet, Of freedom's promise still incomplete. He gets to travel, free to roam; They lost the shop they'd called their second home. [BRIDGE — Intimate crooner over pop piano and soft pads] Hold up — who am I to judge this city? I've seen so little — that's the pity. He leaves a worker out of frame; I turn that worker into a claim. Ten years with him, and I still can't see Every worry he keeps from me. Her life goes on beyond my view; I've got blind spots in my stitching, too. [BREAKDOWN — Soft pop pulse, East River ambience, warm piano] At Brooklyn Bridge Park, he puts his phone away, (No picture. I just wanna stay.) An East River ferry passes near, Who's heading home? I can't tell from here. He sets my crooked brim just right, We watch the ferry fade from sight. [FINAL CHORUS — Euphoric teen pop, soaring synths, full brass] Hey, hey, N-Y-C! Everybody wants a piece of me! He sees the sights, I see the street, Two different worlds beneath his feet! Hey, hey, N-Y-C! (This city's everything to me!) He sees the dream, I see the cost: The faces missed, the stories lost! [FINAL POST-CHORUS — Two-bar phrasing, sparkling synths, sax, claps] Skyscrapers up high! Trains down low! There's more to this city than the billboards show! Hey, hey, N-Y-C! There's more to this city than the eye can see! [OUTRO — Warm crooner, gentle piano, fading city ambience] Ten years together, still faded blue, One more city changed my view. He'll take me home when our trip is through; But who gets to stay when the rent comes due?

0/500