There's a world of people dying out there
Many of them on the east side
I never staked a claim with the rich folks
Though I am one
The New York, New York casino waves
As I fly towards Las Vegas
I gambled ten dollars there once
Cause it's all I had
The MGM Grand
Could steal the heart of a man
But the one next to me
Gives me mine back again
The stewardess says, “Good morning
And welcome to Southwest Airlines
This morning we'll be offering
Your choice of juice or coffee”
And a man with an accent in 19B
He's confused, he pleads for a cup of tea
She's mad but brings it because she must
And his thank you, it melts all of us
The MGM Grand
Could steal the heart of a man
But the one next to me
Gives me mine back again
I fly away from my beloved
He says our honeymoon period has ended
And somewhere through the tears
I ponder o'er the years
That taught me so much
And so little
“Excuse me miss, are you a writer
I'd like to get your autograph now
If you'll be famous”
Then he said, “I live in San Francisco
And I work for the immigration office
Of the United States government
I'm going to visit my brother in Las Vegas”
Our plane descends into the desert
I pretend that I am weightless
There's glitter and there's glare
On the landscape
And there's a world of people dying out there
Many of them on the east side
I never staked a claim with the rich folks
Though I am one
Though I am one