Well I woke up this morning with my suitcase in the hall
Eighteen years I waited just to get this wake-up call
Mom is screamin' "finish school" and sis is cryin' too
And dad is yellin' down the street "get back here boy 'cause New York don't need you!"

Got an older brother, shit he's almost twice my age
Says he once was young and thought he'd trod upon the stage
Then he realized a thousand others thought that too
"Take my advice and stay right here in Tiny Town 'cause New York don't need you!"

Auntie begs "don't go away, sit down and have some tea"
Uncle gives me twenty dollars, wishes he were me
They're nice enough I guess and that's exactly what's so wrong
This family stays together just to try to get along

Long as I remember, I been dyin' in a cage
Tried to throw the book away — they'd turn another page
Never thought I'd live so long to tell them what to do
"Don't follow me or look me up or call me there 'cause New York don't need you!"

New York don't need you
New York don't need you
New York don't need you