Gangsta
tUnE-yArDs Lyrics
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Anger in his heart, but he'll never be a gangsta
If you move into his neighborhood, he'll never make a sound
What's a boy to do if he'll never be a rasta
Singin' from his heart, but he'll never be a rasta
If you move into his neighborhood, he'll never make a sound
If you move into his neighborhood
Bang bang bang oh
Ain't never move to my hood
Cause danger is crawling out the wood
(x4)
What's a girl to do if she'll never be a rasta
Singin' from her heart, but she'll never be a rasta
If you move into her neighborhood, she'll never make a sound
If you move into her neighborhood, she'll never make a
If you move into her neighborhood, she'll never make a sound
[Repeat x4]
Bang bang bang oh
Ain't never move to my hood
'Cause danger is crawling out the wood
Hey
(You're going to put that on tape for the sake of posterity)
(You're ruining the tape)
Life in the city (the city)
Makes more sense when Jesus comes
Bang bang bang oh
Ain't never move to
[Repeat x4]
Bang bang bang oh
Ain't never move to my hood
Cause danger is crawling out the wood
Bang Bang Bang
The lyrics to tUnE-yArDs' song "Gangsta" depict a person who is struggling with his identity and place in society. The first two lines in the song, "What's a boy to do if he'll never be a gangsta, Anger in his heart, but he'll never be a gangsta" show us that the singer wants to be a gangsta but is unable to do so. He is angry, but he cannot express it through violence or aggression. The same thing goes for being a rasta, and the girl singing the next verse has the same issue. The feeling of helplessness and frustration is emphasized by the lines "If you move into his/her neighborhood, he/she'll never make a sound". It shows that the singer cannot even stand up for his/her beliefs even in the security of their own community.
The chorus, "Bang bang bang oh, Ain't never move to my hood, 'Cause danger is crawling out the wood", is a response to those who might dare to enter their communities. It is a message of warning to outsiders that they should not come into his/her community because of the danger that is associated with it. The line "danger is crawling out the wood" suggests that there is a lurking threat, an invisible menace that pervades their community. At the end of the song, there are a few lines that may seem out of place, "Life in the city makes more sense when Jesus comes," but it adds a layer to the song, showing that a strong faith can give one hope amidst their struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
What's a boy to do if he'll never be a gangsta
He questions his identity and purpose, feeling impotent without violence as his means
Anger in his heart, but he'll never be a gangsta
His anger has no outlet, unfulfilled by his inability to fit the stereotypical image
If you move into his neighborhood, he'll never make a sound
He's too powerless to defend his turf, knowing he can't back up his image with action
What's a boy to do if he'll never be a rasta
He wonders if there's a non-violent way to define himself and express his inner thoughts
Singin' from his heart, but he'll never be a rasta
He feels the need to express himself, but longs for an identity that suits him better
If you move into his neighborhood, he'll never make a sound
He's not satisfied with who is, but his lack of confidence prevents him from asserting himself
Bang bang bang oh
The constant threat of violence is always present
Ain't never move to my hood
Don't come here, you'll regret it
Cause danger is crawling out the wood
The danger is imminent, inescapable, and hard to detect
What's a girl to do if she'll never be a rasta
She faces similar identity struggles, feeling disconnected from her true self without the cultural context
Singin' from her heart, but she'll never be a rasta
Her sincerity is undermined by not living up to the required image
If you move into her neighborhood, she'll never make a sound
She feels powerless and helpless, not wanting to call any attention to herself
If you move into her neighborhood, she'll never make a
She doesn't want to be seen as someone to mess with, so she won't act out
Hey
An attention-grabber, possibly an interruption in the narrative
(You're going to put that on tape for the sake of posterity)
Even the mundane and trivial things in life have a value
(You're ruining the tape)
A humorous jab at the importance of preserving history in the form of audio recordings
Life in the city (the city)
A setup for a commentary on urban life
Makes more sense when Jesus comes
Urban anomie can only be overcome by a spiritual presence
Ain't never move to
An urging caution to stay away
Bang Bang Bang
A warning or threat, indicative of imminent violence
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Merrill Martin Garbus, Nathaniel J Brenner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@NotAMachine1
yoyogo504 Merrill Garbus - vocals, ukulele, percussion (2006-present)
Nate Brenner - bass (2009-present)
Touring members
Jo Lampert – vocals (Nikki Nack tour)
Dani Markham - percussion, vocals (Nikki Nack tour)
Abigail Nessen-Bengson – vocals (Nikki Nack tour)
Matt Nelson – saxophone (whokill tour)
Noah Bernstein – saxophone (whokill tour)
Kasey Knudsen – saxophone (whokill tour)
@A_piece_of_broccoli
the people admitting they're here because of letterkenny are the real OGs because there is absolutely no wrong way to discover a song.
@gavinsmiley9377
Damn right! Just because I heard them on the radio first, or you saw them live before they were popular doesn’t make either one of us cooler. Let’s be happy we’ve found an awesome musician, and a funny show. Down with gatekeeping.
@aender13
@Gavin Smiley they did a bunch of music for the movie sorry to bother you which also rules
@gavinsmiley9377
aender13 I’m sorry I couldn’t hear your comment, could you use your white person voice?
@danfrost2859
Couldn't pass up that ass-beating anthem. Too good.
@raysplace6548
🍻🍻.. Ferda...
@kylecephus
This song is great....and that’s what i appreciates about it....
@CharlesWhiter0x0rs
Oh is that what you appreciate about it?
@benvaun1330
Let's take about 15% off over there squirrely Dan.
@brianclemons5375
Me's too