“I Happen To Like New York” (1930)

"I Happen To Like New York" was written by Cole Porter for his show The New Yorkers.

Cole Porter is one of the greatest lyricists of all time, but this song usually does not rank among his greatest.

http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/newbonham/6/ihappentolikeny.htm
I HAPPEN TO LIKE NEW YORK (Cole Porter) ("The New Yorkers")

I happen to like New York, I happen to like this town.
I like the city air, I like to drink of it,
The more I know New York the more I think of it.
I like the sight and the sound and even the stink of it.
I happen to like New York.
I like to go to Battery Park and watch those liners booming in.
I often ask myself, why should it be that they come so far across the sea.
I suppose it's because they all agree with me. They happen to like New York.
Last Sunday afternoon I took a trip to Hackensack,
But after I gave Hackensack the once over, I took the next train back.
I happen to like New York. I happen to love this burg.
And when I have to give the world a last farewell,
And the undertaker starts to ring my funeral bell,
I don't want to go to heaven, don't want to go to hell.
I happen to like New York. I happen to like New York.