Bringin a gun to a knife fight will get you killed 

Walkin out the back door 

Morals and rules only exist in the street 

And the bids to buy them are going fast and large 

Survival, Jackson, is a full time job 

You have to keep in step with the city's heartbeat 



The guys that hung out at Tippy's back in the day 

Have all split up and gone their separate ways 

But once in a while you can still catch some of the crew 

At a shot and beer joint up in the Heights 

Longin for the days of running numbers and starting street fights 

With those who didn't play by the rules 



In the shadow of the Apple and a swamp away from Newark 

People's hearts beat straight but their souls always ring truer 

You gotta back it with some muscle and think fast on your feet 

On the Jersey City streets 



Part of the city's been ruined by gentrification 

Other parts are off limits cause it's a gangland's nation 

But mostly its just workin class folks tryin to get by 

They'll help you if you're in a jam 

What you do with your private life they don't give a damn 

But if someone's trouble, news spreads like wildfire 



Patchwork congregation goes down to White Mana nightly 

The cops go down there to relax, cause they're wound so tightly 

From keepin the hookers and hitters in line but out of sight 

The guys there can mix it up in the ring, or throw down in the street 

But they're all real friendly and make you something to eat 

Sometimes its just an oasis in the middle of the night



In the shadow of the Apple and a swamp away from Newark 

People's hearts beat straight but their souls always ring truer 

As tough as Hell's Kitchen if you can't take the heat 

On the Jersey City streets 



A 40 ounce, a vial, a dime bag or two 

Anything to get you make you feel better or at least get you through 

I may be hurtin, but I'm feeling no pain 

And to those who left us before their time 

We raise our bottles to you when we're drinkin our wine 

Cause a little bit of you comes down from the heavens or up from the gutters when it rains 



In the shadow of the Apple and a swamp away from Newark 

People's hearts beat straight but their souls always ring truer 

The girls down there are real tough, but they taste awfully sweet On the Jersey City streets