[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 {?}vertini
Girls wore tennis skirts, that was mini
Spot{?}, ewings, {?}
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
