Englishman in New York / Jamaican in New York (Sting / Shinehead)

Shinehead made this cover version of the song in 1992. Actually, it was his major hit:



Sting wrote this song in 1987 for his album Nothing Like the Sun:


Lyrics (Shinehead):

Don't drink coffee, I drink roots my dear
And I love my morning ride
You can see it in my motions when I walk
I'm a Jamaican in New York
See me walking down Church Avenue
With my hat leaned to one side
You can see it when I walk

I'm a Jamaican in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm a Jamaican in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm a Jamaican in New York

Roughness makes man, as someone said
He is the rude boy of the day
Takes a man to make a stand, sometimes get wild
Be yourself, no matter what they say

I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm a Jamaican in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm a Jamaican in New York

Niceing up our party, can lead to notoriety
Pretty soon they'll know you as the Don
Because we live so hearty, Babylon don't like we
Still we're gonna party till the sun

And you don't stop, you proceed
And this is the message and rhyme you need
Shinehead's gonna take the lead
All yard man, put up your hand
And let the world know that you have ambition
Well a we, well a we a yardy
A weh we de?
We de a New York City
A weh se come yah fa?
No to make some money
We have to do that to feed we family

Chucking badness does not make a man
And we're not the only ones with guns
Confront your enemies, outsmart them if you can
But if all else fails, you better run
Roughness makes man, as someone said
He is the rude boy of the day
Takes a man to make a stand, sometimes get wild
Be yourself, no matter what they say

I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm a Jamaican in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm a Jamaican in New York
I'm an alien...
I'm a Jamaican in New York
I'm an alien...
I'm a Jamaican ïn New York

Lyrics (Sting):

I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear
I like my toast done on one side
And you can hear it in my accent when I talk
I'm an Englishman in New York

See me walking down Fifth Avenue
A walking cane here at my side
I take it everywhere I walk
I'm an Englishman in New York

I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York

If, "Manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say

I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York

Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety
You could end up as the only one
Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society
At night a candle's brighter than the sun

Takes more than combat gear to make a man
Takes more than a license for a gun
Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can
A gentleman will walk but never run

If, "Manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say

I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York