You were born alive and well;

You were just fighting for yourself in Kansas, 1985

You made peace with your parents — or the companies

At least — when you bought them their birthday cards

And you ran into their bedroom screaming

“wake on up, it‘s morning! Don't just sleep the day away!“

And in 21 years, everything that you have learned it turns

And betrays you

You were scared and very nervous on the first day of school, when you moved here from out west

And the self-righteous sultans of Brooklyn took you in

And you played baseball in the streets

And you were very tired, so the city never sleeps

But I stayed up with you over telephone wires;

Right out of this empire state

That claims your heartache

And if you want something you've gotta do it yourself

If you want something you've gotta do it yourself

Don‘t sacrifice work for subliminal health;

If you want something you've gotta do it yourself

And if you want something you've gotta do it yourself

If you want something you've gotta do it yourself

Don‘t sacrifice work for subliminal health;

If you want something you've gotta do it yourself