It’s hard to be a genius 
    in the middle of the
        20th Century
in New York City
        but really it’s easy
        see

Because the notes you hear
    on the street
        in the West 60’s
or in the apartment 
        I share with Nellie
Thelonious, Jr and Barbara
    were meant to be                    
The other way of looking at it
    I don’t even know
    Because you just do
        what you do
and hope somebody can hear it
        and they do
        hear it

So listen to what I’m
    saying and it’ll
be okay
    in the middle
of New York City
    with too many cops
pickin on people—
   
    Just play—

           see?