Tale Of Two Cities
9th Wonder Murs Lyrics
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Too many died in my city, imagine if we all unified in my city
There’s two sides to my city, a red side and a blue side to my city
Too many died in my city, imagine if we all unified in my city
Black and did the sandals with the stripes
Sucks poured it up on west coast and for life
On my way to the store on the little homie’s bike
I done earned my stripes, knows you might lose your life on any given night
Them black and white cars
Them dudes inside, they from streets like ours,
So they hop out with their guns drawn
Make us lay down on the front lawn
Nights takes palms to the holding cell, we hope we make bail body dawn.
That’s what really goes on,
Where’s Bunch and Carter, man it’s been too long
Geronimo, Gijagga, hope Obama free Assad and we just doing what we gotta
There’s two sides to my city, a red side and a blue side to my city
Too many died in my city, imagine if we all unified in my city
There’s two sides to my city, a red side and a blue side to my city
Too many died in my city, imagine if we all unified in my city
Shout out to Tooky Williams, shout out to Timmy Rogers,
Shout out to all the homies locked down with no fathers
We got a lot of problems, seen a lot of drama
Some believe in Jesus if you, few of you believe in karma
We got daughters, a couple baby mamas
But love can’t compete with the power of a dollar,
You see overseas is what they built their Impalas
While we’re working in these streets ’cause their job’s not promised
Graduate to a key, become a street scholar
’Cause red and blue rags are the new blue color,
It’s hard to swallow, make me wanna holla
But you came here my voice, the radio don’t bother
Could play the positive I give you knowledge on the whole west coast
There ain’t one black college
Wonder why we got problems without knowledge of yourself
Is impossible to solve em
There’s two sides to my city, a red side and a blue side to my city
Too many died in my city, imagine if we all unified in my city
There’s two sides to my city, a red side and a blue side to my city
Too many died in my city, imagine if we all unified in my city
The land of smog and earthquakes
Thought I’d be dead bout my 21st birthday
Dead cars, we ride dirty because the blocks hot
Kevlar under E-bock of Jerseys the block shots
When you went to a city that’s never known
when to redistrict just so they can cut us out of the staple center
That’s less funding for schools
Now the kids with the guns make the rules,
Hunger games, battle royal, Lord of the flies
The city’s re-born while more of us die,
Gentrified, genocide, everywhere the winter’s hot
Watch a local business start to wonder why the kitchens rise
We use music as release, has a zulu wash her teeth so I do it over beats
The future’s in our reach, find solutions to the beef
Get every shooter in the streets to ride for universal beast
There’s two sides to my city, a red side and a blue side to my city
Too many died in my city, imagine if we all unified in my city
There’s two sides to my city, a red side and a blue side to my city
Too many died in my city, imagine if we all unified in my city
In the song Tale of Two Cities by 9th Wonder and Murs, the lyrics discuss the duality of the city they come from, which is Los Angeles. The city is divided into two factions, each represented by different colors, red and blue. The color red represents Bloods, while blue represents Crips. The lyrics describe the struggles of living in a city that is torn apart by gang violence and crime, where it is not uncommon for individuals to die on any given night.
The lyrics also touch upon the effects of gentrification and the lack of education and opportunities that many individuals in the community face. However, the song also offers hope for unity and a solution to the problems faced by the community. The lyrics suggest that if everyone were to come together and unify, these problems could be solved, and the community could move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
There’s two sides to my city, a red side and a blue side to my city
My city is divided into two sides, one associated with the color red and the other with the color blue
Too many died in my city, imagine if we all unified in my city
There have been too many deaths in my city and it would be better if everyone came together in unity
Black and did the sandals with the stripes
Describing the author's fashion style in a poetic way
Sucks poured it up on west coast and for life
Talking about drinking Sizzurp on the west coast region of the US
On my way to the store on the little homie’s bike
Narrating a story about riding a young friend's bike
And I don’t break a sweat, I let the young niggas fight
Not getting involved in young people's fights
I done earned my stripes, knows you might lose your life on any given night
Having gained respect through life experiences and knowing that danger is always present
Them black and white cars
Referring to police cars
Them dudes inside, they from streets like ours,
Noting that police officers come from similar backgrounds as those they are policing
So they hop out with their guns drawn
Police officers are often quick to reach for their guns when responding to incidents
Make us lay down on the front lawn
Police officers force people to lay down on their front lawns during an arrest
Nights takes palms to the holding cell, we hope we make bail body dawn.
Being arrested and taken to jail, hoping to make bail before the morning
That’s what really goes on,
Describing the reality of the situation
Where’s Bunch and Carter, man it’s been too long
Wondering where old friends have gone and how much time has passed
Geronimo, Gijagga, hope Obama free Assad and we just doing what we gotta
Mentioning historical figures and hoping for political change while continuing to just do what is necessary to survive
Shout out to Tooky Williams, shout out to Timmy Rogers,
Giving shoutouts to individuals who are doing their best in tough circumstances
Shout out to all the homies locked down with no fathers
Encouraging and recognizing those who are locked up and without a father figure
We got a lot of problems, seen a lot of drama
Acknowledging the many problems and dramas in life
Some believe in Jesus if you, few of you believe in karma
Not everyone has the same belief system, some believe in Jesus while others believe in karma
We got daughters, a couple baby mamas
Having daughters and being a father to multiple children with different mothers
But love can’t compete with the power of a dollar,
Acknowledging the power that money has over love in some situations
You see overseas is what they built their Impalas
Noting that in other countries, people are able to afford luxury cars while people in the author's city are working on the streets
While we’re working in these streets ’cause their job’s not promised
Having to work hard on the streets because finding a stable job is not guaranteed
Graduate to a key, become a street scholar
Going from street life to drug dealing and becoming knowledgeable about the streets
’Cause red and blue rags are the new blue color,
Gangs affiliated with the colors red and blue have become a normal part of life
It’s hard to swallow, make me wanna holla
The situation is difficult to accept and can make one want to scream in frustration
But you came here my voice, the radio don’t bother
Acknowledging the power of his music and message despite the negative influence of the radio
Could play the positive I give you knowledge on the whole west coast
Offering positivity and knowledge through music about the entire west coast region
There ain’t one black college
Noting that there is no college dedicated to serving the black community
Wonder why we got problems without knowledge of yourself
Suggesting the root cause of problems is a lack of self-awareness
Is impossible to solve em
Stating that without self-awareness, problems cannot be solved
The land of smog and earthquakes
Describing the environmental conditions of the city
Thought I’d be dead bout my 21st birthday
Believing that it was unlikely to survive past the age of 21
Dead cars, we ride dirty because the blocks hot
Driving in old and worn out cars because the police are suspicious of newer cars
Kevlar under E-bock of Jerseys the block shots
Wearing Kevlar under a jersey to protect against gunshots
When you went to a city that’s never known when to redistrict just so they can cut us out of the staple center
When the city knew how to redistrict to remove the black community from the Staples Center
That’s less funding for schools
Lack of funding for schools due to redistricting
Now the kids with the guns make the rules,
Young people with guns are controlling the environment and setting the rules
Hunger games, battle royal, Lord of the flies
Referencing popular books/movies that depict people fighting against each other for survival
The city’s re-born while more of us die,
The city continues to grow and thrive while people die due to violence and other issues
Gentrified, genocide, everywhere the winter’s hot
The process of gentrification is leading to the death and displacement of the black community
Watch a local business start to wonder why the kitchens rise
Local businesses are unable to keep up with rent increases and may have to shut down
We use music as release, has a zulu wash her teeth so I do it over beats
Using music as a means of release and storytelling
The future’s in our reach, find solutions to the beef
The future is within reach and it's important to find solutions to the problems
Get every shooter in the streets to ride for universal beast
Mobilizing everyone in the streets to work towards a common goal of unity
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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