Joe Metro
Blue Scholars Lyrics
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Walking closer to my final destination of death
When I'm laying to rest I'm only saving my breath
The Northwest fills the lungs heals the pain in my chest
Take six quarters out of the pocket and drop it in the box
Hop the 48 off to pay homage
It stops often, I jot my observations
Watching, citizens walking off of the Joe Metropolitan
(Yeah) proletarians and wayward sons with old Filipino men speaking in they native tongue
And the day has just begun
Greeted by the scent of a bum smelling something like beer, barf, and dung (ugh)
A brother into prose in the back all alone marinating in a pair of half broken headphones
Mumbling rhymes, same time begin to pen mine
Appreciating God's design
Rewind sister, reminds me of a smile in the back of my memory
Wonder if I see her again, will she remember me?
I'm not trying to holler, I swear
I'm just weary of the way we hop a ride and just sit there and stare
Prepare for my 9 o'clock work meeting
A couple pale folk slide right by with no greeting
But the people with my phenotype follow with a head nod up (what up)
'Cause we acknowledge that this shit fucked up
North of Martin Luther King, a straight war zone detours through the concrete cranes and bulldozers
No the hill is not over, still, every block got a coffee shop it's overkill
Focus know the deal,
Dope to see Khalil back, the medicine is good again
The feeling of leaving and coming back to your 'hood again is priceless
I write this, our lives are in crisis
Most talk but don't walk the path of the righteous
Despite this, I measure each step
Walking closer to my final destination of death
When I'm laying to rest I'm only saving my breath
The Northwest fill the lungs heals the pain in my chest
Clutch the moment, a transfer in my hands
Still listening, looking out the window to the gold and the green
And the sun might be shining but it's colder than it seems
'Cause the weather's dialectical there's no in between
In walks an old soul, a first nation native cat, chiseled like a totem pole
No words, as he stands and looks over us
He gets off and says, "Have a good day, you foreigners"
I, crack a smile one time for the acknowledgment
Northbound, now we start to pick up more college kids
They try to study on the ride
To make up for the fact that they probably kicked it hard last night
And I ponder if it's time to save up and get a car
And pay for the gas that we're taking from the war (no)
I'd miss all the colorful faces, the places, and spaces
I've embraced with the faith that I could rest and raise kids here
Even with these cats set tripping
Bringing '95 back again, same old conditions
From Reagan, to Bush, to Clinton, to Bush the second
No matter the neighborhood in the city you repping
It's getting serious ya'll you can even hear the rebel call
Getting off, leaving hella pieces on the walls
Seen it all sitting sideways with my townmates
Only place left where majority is brown-faced
Now we headed downtown to trade our labor for cash
I thank the navigator once and walk fast
I walk past the next round of cats to jump on it
Locked in deep thought, we ride around in silence
And cross Rizal Bridge
I watch each step
Walking closer to my final destination of death
When I'm laying to rest I'm only saving my breath
The Northwest fills the lungs heals the pain in my chest
I remain blessed, stepping on rain with each step
Eyes heavy from the lack of the cousin of death
When I'm laying to rest I'm only saving my breath
The northwest fills the lungs ya'll, you know the rest
You know the rest (you know the rest), you know the rest (you know the rest)
It's like that ya'll, that ya'll
It's like that ya'll, that ya'll
And that's all
The song Joe Metro by Blue Scholars is a reflective piece on the experience of taking the bus through Seattle, with a particular focus on the diverse and often challenging realities of life in the city. The opening lines of the song create a sense of unease and foreboding, as the singer describes feeling as though they are getting closer to death with each step they take. This is juxtaposed with the healing quality of the air in the Pacific Northwest, which the singer notes is helping them to breathe easier.
As the song continues, the focus shifts to the experience of riding the bus through the city, with the singer observing the diverse range of people who share this space. There are "proletarians and wayward sons" alongside "old Filipino men speaking in their native tongue", and the singer notes with affection the memory of a woman who reminds them of a smile from their past. However, this diversity is also fraught with tension and struggle, with the singer noting that the area north of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is a "straight war zone" and that the city's neighborhoods are plagued by poverty and gentrification.
Despite these challenges, the singer remains hopeful and steadfast in their commitment to their community. They comment on the fact that the bus is often filled with students trying to study despite having partied hard the night before, and that they themselves are holding down a job that requires them to trade their labor for cash. The song ends with the singer once again reflecting on their mortality, but also noting that they remain blessed and grateful for the small joys and moments of connection that keep them going.
Line by Line Meaning
I reach beneath the skin of the street with each step
Walking on the street makes me feel connected to the community
Walking closer to my final destination of death
Every step I take is a step closer to the end of my life
When I'm laying to rest I'm only saving my breath
Death is a release from the pain of life
The Northwest fills the lungs heals the pain in my chest
The beauty of the Northwest air can bring peace to my heart
Take six quarters out of the pocket and drop it in the box
Paying fare and respecting public transportation
Hop the 48 off to pay homage
Taking the bus to visit a significant place
It stops often, I jot my observations
Taking notes on the world around me during the frequent stops of the bus
Watching, citizens walking off of the Joe Metropolitan
Observing people exiting the bus named 'Joe Metropolitan'
(Yeah) proletarians and wayward sons with old Filipino men speaking in they native tongue
A diverse range of people riding the bus, including Filipino men speaking their native language
And the day has just begun
This is just the start of another typical day
Greeted by the scent of a bum smelling something like beer, barf, and dung (ugh)
Feeling disgusted by the smell of a homeless person
A brother into prose in the back all alone marinating in a pair of half broken headphones
A man in the back of the bus listening to music, lost in his thoughts
Mumbling rhymes, same time begin to pen mine
Starting to write my own lyrics while listening to someone else's music
Appreciating God's design
Grateful for the beauty of the world created by a higher power
Rewind sister, reminds me of a smile in the back of my memory
Thinking back to a woman who made me smile and wondering if we'll ever see each other again
Wonder if I see her again, will she remember me?
Hoping that a past acquaintance will remember me
I'm not trying to holler, I swear
I'm not making advances towards the woman, I just want to be remembered
I'm just weary of the way we hop a ride and just sit there and stare
Tired of the passive mentality of bus riders
Prepare for my 9 o'clock work meeting
Getting ready for a work meeting scheduled for 9am
A couple pale folk slide right by with no greeting
White people walk past me without acknowledging me
But the people with my phenotype follow with a head nod up (what up)
People with a similar appearance to me acknowledge me with a head nod
'Cause we acknowledge that this shit fucked up
We recognize that the world is screwed up
North of Martin Luther King, a straight war zone detours through the concrete cranes and bulldozers
An area north of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is a violent neighborhood undergoing development
No the hill is not over, still, every block got a coffee shop it's overkill
Gentrification is taking over even though the neighborhood is not fully developed
Focus know the deal
Stay vigilant and understand what's going on in our surroundings
Dope to see Khalil back, the medicine is good again
It's great to see a friend named Khalil back and it's good for my soul
The feeling of leaving and coming back to your 'hood again is priceless
The experience of leaving one's neighborhood and returning is valuable
I write this, our lives are in crisis
We are in a state of turmoil
Most talk but don't walk the path of the righteous
Many people talk about doing the right thing but don't follow through with actions
Clutch the moment, a transfer in my hands
Taking hold of the present moment, holding a bus transfer ticket
Still listening, looking out the window to the gold and the green
Continuing to listen to music while admiring the scenery
And the sun might be shining but it's colder than it seems
Although the sun is shining, the weather is still chilly
'Cause the weather's dialectical there's no in between
The weather in the Northwest is constantly changing, there is no middle ground
In walks an old soul, a first nation native cat, chiseled like a totem pole
A Native person enters the bus, with a strong presence like a totem pole
No words, as he stands and looks over us
He remains quiet and stares at everyone on the bus
He gets off and says, "Have a good day, you foreigners"
The Native man gets off the bus and bids us farewell with a slightly insulting comment
I, crack a smile one time for the acknowledgment
I smile because he acknowledged our presence, even if it was with a slight insult
Northbound, now we start to pick up more college kids
Heading in a northbound direction on the bus, more college students board
They try to study on the ride
The students attempt to study while on the bus
To make up for the fact that they probably kicked it hard last night
Trying to compensate for partying the previous night by studying on the bus
And I ponder if it's time to save up and get a car
Considering saving money to buy a car instead of relying on public transportation
And pay for the gas that we're taking from the war (no)
Not wanting to pay for gas from a resource that causes wars and conflicts
I'd miss all the colorful faces, the places, and spaces
Leaving public transportation would mean missing the diversity and uniqueness of the community
I've embraced with the faith that I could rest and raise kids here
Having faith in the community to be a safe place to raise children
Even with these cats set tripping
Despite the presence of gang members causing trouble
Bringing '95 back again, same old conditions
The same issues, violence, and problems that were present in the community in the 90s are still prevalent
From Reagan, to Bush, to Clinton, to Bush the second
Political changes have not made a significant difference in the community
No matter the neighborhood in the city you repping
Regardless of which neighborhood you represent, the issues are similar
It's getting serious ya'll you can even hear the rebel call
The gravity of the situation is becoming apparent, and people are starting to speak out against it
Getting off, leaving hella pieces on the walls
People leaving behind pieces of art and graffiti on the walls as they exit the bus
Seen it all sitting sideways with my townmates
Observing everything from the side of the bus with other people from the same town
Only place left where majority is brown-faced
The only place where people of color make up the majority
Now we headed downtown to trade our labor for cash
Going to work downtown to earn money
I thank the navigator once and walk fast
Thanking the bus driver and hurrying off the bus
I walk past the next round of cats to jump on it
Continuing to walk past people waiting for the next bus
Locked in deep thought, we ride around in silence
Riding on the bus with a passenger, lost in deep thought and silence
And cross Rizal Bridge
Crossing over Rizal Bridge, a significant landmark in Seattle
I watch each step
Observing each step I take, being present in the moment
Walking closer to my final destination of death
Continuing to walk towards the end of my life
When I'm laying to rest I'm only saving my breath
Death is a release from the pain of life
The Northwest fills the lungs heals the pain in my chest
The clean air of the Northwest is healing for the heart and mind
I remain blessed, stepping on rain with each step
Feeling grateful and blessed, even when walking in the rain
Eyes heavy from the lack of the cousin of death
Tired from lack of sleep
When I'm laying to rest I'm only saving my breath
Death is restful and peaceful
The northwest fills the lungs ya'll, you know the rest
The great quality of air in the Northwest is widely recognized
It's like that ya'll, that ya'll
That's just how it is
And that's all
The end of the song
Contributed by Claire I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MegaTim777
This song helped me appreciate my commute back in my bus days. I listen to this song all these years later and it still fills my soul like it did back then. Blue Scholars always humble.
@FlyMeUpSoHigh
Who knew Seattle transit can be describe in such a beautiful way?
@solojones6466
FlyMeUpSoHigh LOL I'm sitting across from a crackhead on the bus your comment made me lol
@jeremypepper4312
I know.If some one say Joe Metro, you know you are in the 206.
@dabisbesh
i discovered them when i was 14. i’m 24 now. ten years later, i drove around downtown seattle late last night and listened while i looked at all the city lights. it was almost sacred. so god damn beautiful. we want more music boys!
@anthonybuccieri884
It's beautiful if you don't mind the smell of urine and crackheads screaming on every other corner.
@Kenziewilliams69
"I'm not tryin' to holla, I swear. I'm just weary of the way we hop n ride
And just sit there and stare."
@ryanmeier1818
wow, 8 years ago this song was put out. I'm now 21 and I remember when this first was released. I was 13 and it feels just like yesterday, that I was putting my ear buds in and longboarding. thanks for the music, it helped me grow.
@tyannquinn4556
Ryan Meier Same here!!
@PhoKingHell
I just came back to it too after listening to them every day growing up. 23 and the way the country's lookin' it hit harder than it did even back then.