Living in NEW YORK CITY and going to tar beach For most NEW YORKERS this was a treat. Taking your beach chairs, towels, and blankets And a radio to the roof. Some would come up with shirts and pants As the roofers began to dance. Listening to ALLEN FREED, COUSIN BRUCIE, and **** CLARK And seeing the treetops in the park. We did not need to go to concerts downtown All you had to do was look around. We would lie on the blankets taking in the sun Or dancing to the music and having lots of fun. We would gather as groups and start to harmonize With every roof joining in – it is easy to visualize. A crescendo of voices floating in the air With people looking out their windows And their voices they would share. A water hose connected to an apartment below Where we could cool off and water balloons to throw. You could take your suburbs, your farms and little towns But nothing to compare to the NEW YORK CITY sounds.