24-7 Spyz (pronounced "twenty-four-seven spies") are a crossover band from … Read Full Bio ↴24-7 Spyz (pronounced "twenty-four-seven spies") are a crossover band from the South Bronx, New York City, formed in 1986, originally consisting of Jimi Hazel (guitar), Rick Skatore (bass), Kindu Phibes (drums), and P. Fluid (real name, Peter Forrest) (vocals). The fact that they were African-Americans playing variations of heavy metal and punk along with rhythm and blues, soul, and hip-hop led critics to compare them to bands such as Living Colour, Bad Brains, and Fishbone. The band is best known for mixing soul, funk, reggae, and R&B with heavy metal and punk music. Though they were pioneers in the fusion of rap and heavy metal, influencing many bands, they have never achieved substantial commercial success. The band broke up in 1998, but reformed in 2003 before releasing their first new album of original material in over a decade in 2006, entitled Face The Day. It is available at www.24-7spyz.com. The band members are: Jimi Hazel (lead vocals & guitars), Rick Skatore (Bass & Vocals) and Tobias Ralph (Drums & Vocals).

Break The Chains
24-7 Spyz Lyrics

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Break the chains
Crazy ways on the streets, its a freak show
Times have changed since I was day one old
There he lies on the ground with his torn up clothes
Gotta help this man but he is not alone

There got to be a way, that's what I say to myself
But if I try too hard, I'm right back on that shelf

You give and give and give, you think you've won this race
People crying - people dying, seems like its lost in space

[Chorus]
Break the chains! Of this freak show, ah
Clear my brains, I can't take no more, yeah
Break the chains! Of this freak show, da da ra ra
Clear my brains, I can't take no more

Crazy ways on the streets its a freak show
Times have change since I was day one old
There he stands with no hope, and his pride in chains
Gotta help this man because his souls in pain

There's got to be a way, that's what I say to myself
But if I try too hard, I'm right back on that shelf
You give and give and give, you think you've won this race
People crying, people dying, seems like its lost in space

There's got to be a way,

[Chorus]

Break the chains! Of this freak show
Clear my brains! I can't take no more

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Break The Chains" by 24-7 Spyz is a powerful commentary on the state of affairs in society. The song describes the prevalence of poverty, homelessness, and the overall desperation on the streets. The first verse talks about a man lying in tattered clothes, and although he needs help, he is not alone in his suffering. The singer realizes there must be a way to make a difference in this world, but the lyric "if I try too hard, I'm right back on that shelf" implies that the road to change is difficult and often met with obstacles.

The chorus of the song "Break The Chains" is a call to action for society to break free from the chains of this "freak show" that is the harsh reality of life. It suggests that although people give and give, it seems like poverty and social issues persist and worsen, and thus it is necessary to take a more radical approach to make a difference. The repetition of "Break the chains!" and "Clear my brains, I can't take no more!" reflects the urgency of the cry for help.

"Break The Chains" is a profound piece of music that highlights the need for systemic change in society. The lyrics remind us that poverty and homelessness are not individual failures, but rather a symptom of a larger problem. The song encourages people to break away from the status quo of inaction and to fight for a better world.

Line by Line Meaning

Break the chains
Free ourselves from the oppressive systems keeping us down

Crazy ways on the streets, its a freak show
The world is chaotic and full of bizarre and disturbing events

Times have changed since I was day one old
Things are very different now from when I was born

There he lies on the ground with his torn up clothes
A person is down and out, with nothing to their name

Gotta help this man but he is not alone
We must come together to support and uplift each other

There got to be a way, that's what I say to myself
We must believe in the possibility of change

But if I try too hard, I'm right back on that shelf
If we push too hard we risk being defeated and falling back into the same situation

You give and give and give, you think you've won this race
We give our all in the hopes of achieving a better world

People crying - people dying, seems like its lost in space
Despite our efforts, it feels like our cries for change go unheard and we are losing the battle

Break the chains! Of this freak show, ah
We must break free from the oppressive forces causing chaos and suffering

Clear my brains, I can't take no more, yeah
The endless stream of upsetting events and situations is overwhelming and we need relief

There he stands with no hope, and his pride in chains
A person is defeated and beaten down, unable to hold onto their dignity

Gotta help this man because his souls in pain
We must offer aid and support to those who are hurting

There's got to be a way,
Despite the odds, we must continue to search for a path to a better world

Break the chains! Of this freak show, da da ra ra
We must escape the madness and mayhem of the world around us

Clear my brains! I can't take no more
We must release ourselves from the constant strain and trauma of everyday life

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEFF BRODNAX, WAYNE K. RICHARDSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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