[Verse 1] I was twelve in the back seat, Counting bridges through the glass. Dad said, "Keep your eyes up, That river never holds you back." I kept a dime in my pocket, For the turnstile, for the try. Every tower looked like a promise, Every siren felt like "mine." [Pre-Chorus] Map lines in my notebook, Names I couldn't say. I wrote my future in block letters, Then I folded it away. [Chorus] City dreams, city dreams I still hear my name City dreams, city dreams Same old hunger, same old flame Hold me up, don't let me fade On these blocks I got made City dreams, city dreams I still hear my name [Verse 2] Now I'm grown, same corners, New sneakers, old scars. Barber shop talk on the sidewalk, Kids spinning on the parked cars. My mama kept the rent paid, My brother kept the laugh loud. We learned hope from the thin days, Found gold in a gray crowd. [Pre-Chorus] I know the billboards lie, But I learned how to read Every cracked-up front window Still showed me what I need. [Chorus] City dreams, city dreams I still hear my name City dreams, city dreams Same old hunger, same old flame Hold me up, don't let me fade On these blocks I got made City dreams, city dreams I still hear my name [Bridge] If I make it, I take it Back to where I started To the stoop, to the hallway, To the ones who never parted I don't need a crown, nah, I need my people whole Same kid with a lunch tray Still carrying that roll [Chorus] City dreams, city dreams I still hear my name City dreams, city dreams Same old hunger, same old flame Hold me up, don't let me fade On these blocks I got made City dreams, city dreams I still hear my name