[Verse One]

I'd like to tell a story and it goes like this

Before I was makin money hand over fist

The mid-80's is what I'm talkin about

You will agree without a reasonable doubt

As I tell this tale, sittin on a pail

This is one you'll like when it's done

Only certain people know about Union Square

The Rooftop, Latin Quarter, cause I was there

Red Alert downtown, Brucie Bee uptown

Grandmaster Vic had a different sound

You had block parties, with free gifts

Mr. Magic and Marley gave radio a lift

You don't understand, but we do

That's why I'm tryin to explain it to you

So sit back and listen, to what I say

As I tell the story of this beautiful day



[Chorus: sampled]

"We'll go dancing in the dark" - HEY!

"Walking through the park, and reminiscing"

BREAK IT ON DOWN!



[Verse Two]

Before Versace and DKNY

There was a lot of clothes that was fly

Like Polo, Benetton, Coca-Cola and Osh Kosh

Guess jeans and others that's acid washed

D.C. wore K-Swiss and Sergio Tacchini

Girls wore tennis skirts, that was mini

Spot Belch, Ewings, Le Coq Sportif, 

New Balance, Fila, Nike and Elites





African clothes and medallions was worn

And when Rakim came out, knowledge was born

In the midst of it all, I almost forgot

There was a brother uptown makin his own spot

Makin Gucci, leather and suede tailor made

That had more flavor than mom's Kool-Aid

I'm gonna tell you, the name of this man

He goes by the name of the Dapper Dan



[Chorus]



[Verse Three]

See at this time, you might think I'm strange

Cause I wore a four-finger ring, and big gold chains

Like I was Mr. T from the A-Team

It was just a sign of me makin cream

But the cars and jeeps was incred-a

Like the Audi, 280 Z's, 98's and Jettas

Cherokees, Wranglers, Suzuki Sidekicks

L.A. and West coast cars was doin tricks

Now the dances was crazy to match

Like the Pee Wee, The Wop and the Cabbage Patch

The Prep, The Snake, and "The Biz Mark, Biz Mark"

The way the Gucci Girls gave shows a spark

Now listen, to what I got to say-ah

Reagan was Pres', and Koch was the Mayor

You can't beat that with a baseball bat

And you'd never see me without my Biz Mark hat



[Chorus] - 4X w/ ad libs