[Intro]
What you're tryna do is be faithful to your perceptions
Um, transmit them as faithfully as you can
You know, I just say these sentences again and again in my head until they sound right
So it’s euphony, sometimes it's harsh and [?], but
It's just matching up the perception with the words in a kind of, semi-musical way that it’s [?]

[Chorus]
I be up in New York (I be up in New York, New York, New York)
Sunshine on my own (Sunshine on my own, New York, New York)
Alright, alright, alright, alright, just tryna get my mind in the zone (Tryna get my mind in the zone, New York, New York)
I be up in New York (I be up in New York)
Sunshinе on my own (Sunshine on my own)
Alright, alright, alright, alright just tryna get my mind in the zonе (Tryna get my mind in the zone)

[Verse 1]
Man, it's too loud in this coffee shop
I put my headphones on, sit down, pull out my chair
I don't know where to start, this a beat from 88-Keys
Marlon gave me this key to put on for my city and pave the way
But I can't focus, let me just get into my zone and flow, it's so unfair
I been at this craft for years, and to me, this rap is deep
Like this beat, I wanna do it justice
But these unclear thoughts interfere what I'm nearin'
And nobody in this game really knows why I'm here (Why I’m here)
Grown up enclosed by Cantonese culture
Let alone, at six months old my fam already left New York to Tokyo
Put me in a local school, but thank God for these broken rules of how we supposed to live
Taught me how to pour my soul into this music, prayin’
Hopin' it’ll point to bliss
How 'bout this, with my words, let's see who I can touch right here
Take another sip of my coffee, think I got somethin' here, okay
[Chorus]
I be up in New York (I be up in New York, New York, New York)
Sunshine on my own (Sunshine on my own, New York, New York)
Alright, alright, alright, alright, just tryna get my mind in the zone (Tryna get my mind in the zone, New York, New York)
I be up in New York (I be up in New York, New York, New York)
Sunshine on my own (Sunshine on my own, New York, New York)
Alright, alright, alright, alright, just tryna get my mind in the zone (Tryna get my mind in the zone)

[Verse 2]
Okay, I started flowin’, just don't lose it (Don't lose it)
I mean, my heart is racin', this lady asked me to use my cable
Yeah, take it, begging, I'm able to get back into my zone, okay
Should I go for a stove, no, I'll keep it goin'
Constantly smokin', seekin' fruition of my vision as I'm writin' this
I know my mothers love is in her heart
My father's working all day long, and
I am way too much like y'all, but I– (I know)
I can't–, I can't go that direction, I need love, look
I mean, my parents took me and my bro around the globe
And I carried this in my conscience 'cause you should me people starvin'
American life ain't normal, if I could show them all what I saw
Show 'em the difference, we could change that we livin'
Ah, it's too preachy, it's–, but I mean
They need these experiences, took me to the pyramids
I took in the vast waters of Antarctica
And you know I could be a lawyer, but you love me as an author, I
[Chorus]
I be up in New York (I be up in New York)
Sunshine on my own (Sunshine on my own, I think I got enough at home now)
Alright, alright, alright, alright just tryna get my mind in the zone (Tryna get my mind in the zone)
I be up in New York (I be up in New York, New York, New York)
Sunshine on my own (Sunshine on my own, New York, New York)
Alright, alright, alright, alright, just tryna get my mind in the zone (Tryna get my mind in the zone)

[Verse 3]
I head back to mine, my place where I reside in Bed-Stuy
My girl lives down the street, she hit me, I can't chill, see
I been workin' too hard, workin' too long for all of this, man
I truly think that I am just too young
I should be out in college partyin', sittin' in lessons, findin' direction
But, I dropped out (New York), tryna make it on my own, this the only way I know
I guess I'm sleepin', in the mornin' I'll finish this song (New York, New York)
I wake up and I run, you see, I battle depression
I'm just tryna wrap my head around everything that I think I'm meant for (New York)
As I settle into my desk, the only thing I didn't mention are
These memories on the Island, squeezin' dreams up out my eyelids
All this time spent with this rhymin', all these people on my mind
It's so much left to unravel, will they see it in my time?
For now, I–, I guess they can't fathom my story
Wonder if they'll ever know me, I don't know

[Chorus]
I be up in New York (I be up in New York, New York, New York, it's all I got)
Sunshine on my own (Sunshine on my own, New York, New York, text, you wanna come over?)
Alright, alright, alright, alright, just tryna get my mind in the zone (Tryna get my mind in the zone, New York, New York)
I be up in New York (I be up in New York, New York, New York)
Sunshine on my own (Sunshine on my own, New York, New York)
Alright, alright, alright, alright, just tryna get my mind in the zone (Tryna get my mind in the zone)
[Interlude]
They wanna know, they wanna know your name
You cannot hold, you cannot hold the flame
They want your soul, cans came and soldiers came
They leave what's broke, in time, it's all the same
You're on your way (You're on your way)
You're on your way (You're on your way)
You're on your way (You're on your way)
You're on your way for me (You're on your way)
You're on your way (You're on your way)
You're on your way (You're on your way)
You're on your way from here (You're on your way)
You're on your way (You're on your way)