Interlude: Pedestals
Solange Lyrics
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"I wanna tell my story." 'Cause I never cried or nothing
And that's where the "Make 'em say uhh uhh," that's like my pain
That's basically what it is. That's my battle cry
Think about it. None of us are perfect. We live in an imperfect world
You know, only God can judge me, that's how I look at it
The people that's sitting around pointing their fingers
Imagine all the stuff they're probably doing
Whether you're police officers, doctors, lawyers, presidents
Whatever, you got good and bad in everything
You know, we're putting people on a pedestal
That's just a human like us. You know
I mean, they got more drugs in the rich neighborhoods
Than they got in the hood. A lot of their kids dying
From overdose and things like that, think about it
Black kids have to figure it out! We don't have rehabs to go to
You gotta rehab yourself. But for us
You can't pull the plug on us and tell us it's over. Not me!
In Solange's song Interlude: Pedestals, she essentially shares a personal anecdote that has shaped her perspective and approach towards life. She mentions that despite the fact that she has had to endure numerous challenges and hardships, she has never been one to cry or express her pain in a palpable manner. She goes on to say that the phrase "Make 'em say uhh uhh" is symbolic of her pain and is what she considers to be her "battle cry". Essentially, she is eluding to the fact that everyone has their own problems and it is important to recognize this fact in order to break away from the societal norm of putting people on a pedestal.
Furthermore, Solange believes that only God has the right to judge her, and that it is important to remember that all people, regardless of their profession or social status, have both good and bad qualities. She emphasizes the importance of avoiding excessive criticism and finger-pointing, and instead focusing on trying to better oneself. Additionally, Solange draws attention to the fact that drug abuse and addiction is prevalent in rich neighborhoods as well, and that black children often struggle with limited resources to overcome these issues. However, she emphasizes that despite the hardships, she refuses to give up, and encourages others to do the same.
Line by Line Meaning
But man, I done been through it all, so I, I said
I have experienced a lot in my life, and because of that, I want to share my story with others.
"I wanna tell my story." 'Cause I never cried or nothing
I want to share my experiences and emotions, even though I have never been open about them before.
And that's where the "Make 'em say uhh uhh," that's like my pain
The phrase 'Make 'em say uhh uhh' represents my struggle and hardship.
That's basically what it is. That's my battle cry
The phrase 'Make 'em say uhh uhh' is like my battle cry because it represents my struggle and determination.
Think about it. None of us are perfect. We live in an imperfect world
We are all flawed, and we must acknowledge this reality as we navigate through life.
You know, only God can judge me, that's how I look at it
I believe that only a higher power can truly judge me, and I find comfort in this belief.
The people that's sitting around pointing their fingers
Individuals who judge and criticize others without self-reflection.
Imagine all the stuff they're probably doing
Those who judge others are likely engaging in their own negative behaviors behind closed doors.
Whether you're police officers, doctors, lawyers, presidents
People from all professions can be flawed and subject to scrutiny.
Whatever, you got good and bad in everything
Every situation and profession has both positive and negative aspects.
You know, we're putting people on a pedestal
We are elevating certain individuals to a level of unrealistic expectations and regard.
That's just a human like us. You know
Those we put on pedestals are just human beings with their own flaws and struggles.
I mean, they got more drugs in the rich neighborhoods
More drugs and addiction exist in wealthy areas, despite popular belief.
Than they got in the hood. A lot of their kids dying
Communities with more wealth are not immune to the same issues and tragedies faced by those in lower-income communities.
From overdose and things like that, think about it
Overdoses and other drug-related deaths impact individuals from all backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses.
Black kids have to figure it out! We don't have rehabs to go to
Black individuals must navigate substance abuse issues without the same access to resources and support as other groups.
You gotta rehab yourself. But for us
Individuals in marginalized communities often have to rely on their own strength and resilience to overcome struggles.
You can't pull the plug on us and tell us it's over. Not me!
We will not let others dictate our lives or cut off our hope and resilience, and I personally refuse to give up.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Solange Knowles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind