I Mean Business (original West End cast recording)
Elton John / Shaina Taub / Mark Sonnenblick




Growing up in Jersey City

"The wrong side of The Hudson"

I wished upon the Manhattan skyline

Thought I'd show up and land a job at The Times or The Observer

A writer! With a big city byline

And you will be!

Well, I'm exhausted after months of pounding pavement

But fingers crossed, you'll nail this interview at ten

Sure!

'Cause when the facts say, "Andy Sachs moved back to Jersey"

Do you?
No!

I decide to be irrationally confident, and try again!
Damn straight!

I'm ready to work!

Today could be my day

That's the spirit, baby!

So, The Nеwyorker doesn't want me?

That's okay!

Scrеw them!

As soon as I get one good shot, I'd show this city I mean business


I mean business, oh yeah 

I mean business, yes I do 

I mean business, New York City

And you're takin' the train

To my fifteenth interview

Hey

I mean business
Yeah!

And I'm ready to work

And then I'll work my way back to you
Hey, good luck!

I wanna write the kind of stories that define a generation

I know I will find my voice, I just need some validation!

When can I show them how good I am?

How many doors can a city slam?

Somebody please take a chance on me, I'm no one today -

I'm no one today

Tomorrow - wait and see

I wanna break headlines like all my literary heroes

I'm finally in it, New York City!

I know I got so much to say, how do I let my voice come through?


I mean business, oh yeah
I mean business, yes I do
'cause I'm in it, New York City

ah, perfect, flawless, ah, cutthroat, ruthless

Ambitious, and I'm ready

To work

I grew up wishing on the skyline

Oh, but I

Well, now I'm here

And I got work to do

In New York City, ohhhh, ahhh

I got work to do!

______________________________________________________________________________________________

I Mean Business (Elton's demo)
Elton John / Shaina Taub / Mark Sonnenblick

Gm - Cm - F - Bb - F/A  x2 

        Gm             Eb        F               Bb
Growing up across the Hudson I stared out of my window
       Gm           Eb         F
Every night at the Manhattan skyline
  Gm         Eb                  F               Bb
Reading the Sunday Times with a light under the covers
     Gm             Eb         F
I dreamed of having my own by-line
      Bb/D       Eb          F    
So I studied my butt off at Rutgers
         Bb/D                       Eb        F
Ran the student gazette and got my honors degree
         Bb/D     Eb          F
I got a shoebox apartment in Bushwick
        Gb                        Ab
It can barely fit a futon but it worked for me

     Db                Gb           Ab
I'm ready to work, I'm hot off the press
           Db           Gb          Ab
I'm gonna write my own ticket to success
        Ebm              Ebm7                   Ab
I gotta find my beat and show this city I mean business

       Db           Gb
I mean business, oh yeah
       Ebm             Ab
I mean business, yes I do
       Db       Gb       Ab
I mean business New York City
       Db           Gb
I mean business, oh yeah
       Ebm             Ab
I mean business, yes I do
       Db       Gb       Ab
I mean business New York City
          Ebm                       Ab          Db   
And I've worked, and I've worked my way back to you

Db - Gb - Bbm - Ab    x2

         Gm      Eb            F         Bb 
Walking east on 42nd it's like all of a sudden
       Gm       Eb               F
Every light is turning green for me now
      Gm            Eb             F               Bb
I got my good luck notebook for my interview this morning
       Gm           Eb      F
'Cause I'm a little boss to be now
          Bb/D        Eb        F
Sure this magazine is only for fashion
          Bb/D                     Eb           F
But it'll cover my rent and get my foot in the door
       Bb/D        Eb          F
And my brilliant adopting will soon be resulting
   Gb                         Ab
In monumental stories they cannot ignore

I'm ready to work, I'm hot off the press
I'm gonna write my own ticket to success
I'm gonna find my beat and show this city I mean business

repeat chorus

       Bbm          Ebm         Ab/C           Db
By the time that I'm 24 The New Yorker will promote me
      Bbm         Ebm      Ab/C                 Db
And before I turn 28 every late-night show will quote me
C                     Fm
Pulitzer prize winner Andy Sachs
  G7                    Cm
Exposing corruption and printing the facts
     Gb
Like Gloria Steinem in her prime
                                 Ab
Changing the world one page at a time

       Db           Gb
I mean business, oh yeah
       Ebm                    Ab
I mean business through and through
       Db       Gb       Ab
I mean business New York City
       Db           Gb
I mean business, oh yeah
        Ebm                   Ab
Serious business through and through
            Db       Gb       Ab
So we're in business New York City
       Ebm          Ab               Db     Gb-Bbm-Ab
'Cause I, oh yes I, I've got work to do
                 Db      Gb-Bbm-Ab
I've got work to do
                 Db      Gb-Bbm-Ab
I've got work to do
                Ebm    
I've got work to do
Ab               Db
I've got work to do