[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