Can someone explain this to me??

[London_Boro]

Alicia Keys/Jay-Z "Empire State of Mind"

The line "Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of"

WTF are they on about, does this make sense to anyone or am I being a bit thick?

Thanks. it's been playing on my mind for years, and it just played on radio 2.

 

[Mr_Fridge]

Just think it doesn’t need the ‘of’ to make sense?

 

[Chris_Boro]

New York = Concrete jungle where dreams are made, allegedly.

 

[DearChicago]

Think it just means that dreams are made/realised in NYC.

 

[London_Boro]

New York = Concrete jungle where dreams are made, allegedly.

Yes, that would may sense, dreams are 'made of'.... not so much?

 

[London_Boro]

Think it just means that dreams are made/realised in NYC.

I get what it should mean, the way it's presented makes no sense. Should it not be....

Concrete jungle where dreams are made.

OR, at the very least...

Concrete jungle THAT dreams are made of?

 

[zzzzz]

It's on America's tortured brow
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow

 

[Chris_Boro]

Yes, that would may sense, dreams are 'made of'.... not so much?

I think the "made of" is paraphrasing a place where dreams are created.

Made of =/= created.

It's an old expression.

 

[Billy69_uk]

if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere

 

[London_Boro]

I think the "made of" is paraphrasing a place where dreams are created.

Made of =/= created.

It's an old expression.

Well it's stupid and irks me every time i hear it!

 

[Way_Out_West]

Maybe the following line is part of the same clause, in that in NY dreams are made out of the attitude that anything is possible?

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of "there's nothin' you can't do"

 

[Steer]

And while we are at it, why were Black Lace pushing the pineapple and shaking the tree. Is that a euphemism for something?

 

[Dham]

It’s ambiguous but I can live with that. Better than lazy lyrics. Eg Tonight there’s gonna be a jail break. Somewhere in this town. Erm… let’s think. Or I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier. Well I’ve got a pen but I’m not a penguin. Ham …. Not a hamster. These offences are in my option far worse.

 

[Millbrook]

Finishing the line with 'of' leaves it open for the listener to add consciously or otherwise what their dreams would be made of.

 

[Scrote]

Maybe the following line is part of the same clause, in that in NY dreams are made out of the attitude that anything is possible?

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of "there's nothin' you can't do"

This.

I've always assumed it's a two line phrase.

 

[Jedi boro]

It’s basically a modern twist on the original classic New York new york

I want to wake up in a city
That never sleeps
And find I'm king of the hill
Top of the heap
These small town blues
They are melting away
I'll make a brand new start of it
In old New York
If I can make it there
I'll make it anywhere
It's up to you
New York, New York

Aspirational esp this bit.

If I can make it there
I'll make it anywhere

 

[El Guapo]

I can’t, not just like that.

 

[JaenBoro]

Whatever. She has an amazing voice

 

[Nano]

I prefer the one about Newport

 

[dooderooni]

Maybe the following line is part of the same clause, in that in NY dreams are made out of the attitude that anything is possible?

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of "there's nothin' you can't do"

I'd agree with this. I think it's a three line thing in the chorus.