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 [unverified]   I happen to like New York, I happen to like New York   I happen to like New York