[Verse 1] Gabi set the knife down Looked across the plate Thomas talked in clean lines Like a map he could save He said trains bring money Money changes the rent I heard that in my bones Before the sentence was spent [Pre-Chorus] I said, I’ve seen that Queens in a rush Long Island City All polished up Cleaner, better-looking Same old goodbye And every new doorway Closed on the people inside [Chorus] Queens changes fast Not for the same people Queens changes fast I know what it does Small shops vanish first Then the neighbors follow Queens changes fast Pushes us out (Queens changes fast) (not for the same people) [Verse 2] He said it’s the structure Not a thing you can charm If you slow it down now The shape still does harm Stable systems, he said Erase the stray and the small The ones who fit the prices Get to stand through it all I thought of those blocks Back in Potsdam rain So even rows, so certain Like they’d swallowed the name [Pre-Chorus] Then he named Bogotá Northern part of town Mixed houses, daily errands No gates all around Not another Queens If the pressure holds back I laughed at the dream of it Still, I followed the track [Chorus] Queens changes fast Not for the same people Queens changes fast I know what it does Small shops vanish first Then the neighbors follow Queens changes fast Pushes us out (Queens changes fast) (not for the same people) [Bridge] He said, “You’re working Against your upside” I said, “Maybe That’s where I decide” Improve the line And the land gets dear Broader access Still feels too near [Break] Rotterdam first We survive tonight Then we keep moving Keep the line in sight [Outro] He smiled and said, “That can be arranged.” I leaned back laughing “Let’s survive Rotterdam first” “Refuel in Rotterdam,” he said, “then Tallinn” And just like that I wanted to go
