I happen to like New York, I happen to love this town I like the city air, I like to drink of it The more I see New York, the more I think of it I like the sight and the sound and even the stink of it I happen to like New York I like to go to Battery Park and watch the liners booming in I often ask myself why should it be that they come so far across the sea? I suppose it's because they all agree with me They happen to like New York Last Sunday afternoon I took a trip to Hackensack But after I gave Hackensack the once over I took the next train back I happen to like New York And oh, the Easter Show at the Music Hall A perfect delight And oh, pastrami on rye at the Carnegie Deli There's joy in each pie And Madison Square for a Friday night fight Or a walk along Broadway to guest at the lights And at Carnegie Hall where the atmosphere's right Life at the lights, at the night I happen to like New York, I happen to love this burg And when I have to give the world my last farewell And the undertaker comes to ring my funeral bell I don't wanna go to heaven, don't wanna go to hell I happen to like New York, I happen to like New York I happen to like New York