Badlands was a short-lived rock band founded by Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee and Black Sabbath members Ray Gillen and Eric Singer. Badlands also featured bassist Greg Chaisson. After the first Badlands album, Eric Singer was replaced by Jeff Martin. Eric Singer later played drums on the Greg Chaisson solo album It’s About Time. They existed from 1988 to 1992 and released three albums, Badlands (1989), Voodoo Highway (1991), and Dusk (originally recorded in 1993-1992 and released posthumously in 1998).
Greg Chaisson and Jeff Martin later played in the bands Blindside Blues Band and RedSea.
Jake E. Lee was not getting along with Ray Gillen to the point where Ray left the band as Jake was already telling magazines he was fired and being replaced. Ray went to New York City to record Sun Red Sun with old friends but died from an AIDS related disease in a New York Hospital on December 1, 1993.
2. There was also another band called Badlands with John Sykes and Neil Murray. Both bands named Badlands had former Black Sabbath members as members.
3. Badlands is also a rock'n'roll/oi band from the Netherlands.
4. Badlands is also a hardcore band from Ottawa Canada. (http://badlandshc.bandcamp.com/)
5. http://outinthedesert.bandcamp.com/album/so-little from los angeles.
6. Badlands is also Swedish producer, composer & sound designer Catharina Jaunviksna (https://badlandssounds.bandcamp.com/music)
Streets Cry Freedom
Badlands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the neon sleeps
The streets show the pity
And the nights run deep
And every shadow seems to hold a hidden story
And every heart, oh, is a refugee
And the old ones hope
The hustlers float
And the young ones dream
In the city
Livin' in the soul of the city
And the streets cry freedom
Do you stand or retreat
As you stare by the neon gods above
While you bask in the heat
And the streets cry freedom
As the blood runs cold
As you stare into the eyes of the walking ghosts
Who've lost their souls
In the summer's heat I'm weary
In the soul of the city
Potential's burning bright
In the Harlem halls
Have you ever lived looking down a shotgun barrel
When they said hey boy, this ain't your home
There ain't no cure for the bleeding heart
'Cause when you fall
There's no second start in the city
There'll always be the soul of the city
And the streets cry freedom
As it burns in the heat
As you stare by the neon gods above
While you bask in the heat
And the streets cry freedom
As the blood runs cold
You stare into the eyes of the walking ghosts
Who've lost their souls
(Solo)
There is no reason
For livin' in sin
I don't believe when they say hey boy, you better give in
You know I'll fight for what I know
Till the day that I die
'Cause I'm better off dead
Then buried along with my pride
And the streets cry freedom
Till the day that I die, yeah
Till the day that I die
And the streets cry freedom
Till the day that I die, yeah
Till the day that I die, yeah
Till the day that I die
Till the day that I die, die, die, die, die, oh
Streets cry freedom
Potential's burning bright
Oh, oh
Till the day that I die
Till the day that I die
Till the day that I die
Till the day that I die
The lyrics to Badlands's song Streets Cry Freedom describe the harsh reality of living in a city. As the neon lights shine and the streets show no mercy, every person is a refugee with a hidden story. The old ones hope and the lost ones scream, while the hustlers float and the young ones dream. Still, in the soul of the city, hope burns bright, and potential is limitless. However, the city also holds extreme danger, as one may find themselves staring down a shotgun barrel, facing the possibility of losing their life.
The chorus of the song is an anthem for those who refuse to give in to the sin and corruption that surrounds them. The streets cry freedom as people fight for what they know is right. The lyrics suggest that there may be no cure for the bleeding heart after falling, but they will fight for their pride and dignity until the day they die.
Overall, the song discusses the struggle between hope and danger that is present in city life. The lyrics highlight the resilience and determination of those who refuse to give in to corrupt systems and fight for their freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
In the coldness of the city
In the harsh and unfeeling environment of the city
Where the neon sleeps
In the quiet and darkness of the city's neon lights
The streets show the pity
The streets reveal the suffering and sorrow of the city
And the nights run deep
The nights are long and full of meaning in the city
And every shadow seems to hold a hidden story
The shadows in the city appear to have a secret and significant history
And every heart, oh, is a refugee
Everyone's heart in the city is searching for a safe haven
And the old ones hope
The elderly in the city hold onto hope
And the lost ones scream
Those who are lost in the city cry out for help
The hustlers float
Those who hustle in the city move smoothly and confidently
And the young ones dream
The youth in the city hold onto their aspirations and dreams
In the city
In the midst of the urban environment
Livin' in the soul of the city
Living in the heart and essence of the city
And the streets cry freedom
The city streets call out for liberation
Do you stand or retreat
Will you fight for freedom or give up in defeat?
As you stare by the neon gods above
As you look up at the glowing, powerful signifiers of the city
While you bask in the heat
While you enjoy the pleasures and excesses of the city
As the blood runs cold
As the city's violence and danger becomes all too real
As you stare into the eyes of the walking ghosts
As you come face to face with those who have lost their spirit and identity in the city
Who've lost their souls
Those who have become empty and lifeless in the city
In the summer's heat I'm weary
In the oppressive and draining heat of summer in the city
Potential's burning bright
The possibility of success and change is promising
In the Harlem halls
In the cultural and historical center of the African-American experience in the city
Have you ever lived looking down a shotgun barrel
Have you ever been threatened with violence in the city?
When they said hey boy, this ain't your home
When you are made to feel like a stranger or outsider in your own city
There ain't no cure for the bleeding heart
There is no solution for the emotional pain felt in the city
'Cause when you fall
Because when you fail or make mistakes
There's no second start in the city
There are no second chances or opportunities in the city
There'll always be the soul of the city
The spirit and character of the city will always remain
Till the day that I die, yeah
Until my last breath
Streets cry freedom
The streets continue to demand liberty and justice
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAKE E. LEE, PAUL ONEILL, RAY GILLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@geofftate602
In the coldness of the city
Where the neon sleeps
The streets show the pity
And the nights run deep
And every shadow seems to hold a hidden story
And every heart, oh, is a refugeeAnd the old ones hope
And the lost ones scream
The hustlers float
And the young ones dream
In the city
Livin' in the soul of the cityAnd the streets cry freedom
Do you stand or retreat
As you stare by the neon gods above
While you bask in the heatAnd the streets cry freedom
As the blood runs cold
As you stare into the eyes of the walking ghosts
Who've lost their soulsIn the summer's heat I'm weary
In the soul of the city
Potential's burning bright
In the Harlem halls
Have you ever lived looking down a shotgun barrel
When they said hey boy, this ain't your homeThere ain't no cure for the bleeding heart
'Cause when you fall
There's no second start in the city
There'll always be the soul of the cityAnd the streets cry freedom
As it burns in the heat
As you stare by the neon gods above
While you bask in the heatAnd the streets cry freedom
As the blood runs cold
You stare into the eyes of the walking ghosts
Who've lost their souls(Solo)There is no reason
For livin' in sin
I don't believe when they say hey boy, you better give in
You know I'll fight for what I know
Till the day that I die
'Cause I'm better off dead
Then buried along with my prideAnd the streets cry freedom
Till the day that I die, yeah
Till the day that I die
And the streets cry freedom
Till the day that I die, yeah
Till the day that I die, yeah
Till the day that I die
Till the day that I die, die, die, die, die, oh
Streets cry freedomPotential's burning brightOh, oh
Till the day that I die
Till the day that I die
Till the day that I die
Till the day that I die
@rayduckett239
A good drink of liquor and Badlands is the best thing.
@dreamline242onyoutube4
BADD ASS SONG! I am 51 now and want to go nuts everytime I hear this song!
@GRILLBUOY101
me 2.i do it I'm 53
@chloenadinewinter5323
Never enough of Ray Gillen
@davidmcfadden1763
@big lift Far right
@gabrieljohannson6777
A true epic from one of the best blues/hard-rock albums ever. To this day this album stands up and above so much that is out there. I love the slide on this track. Such an underrated album/band. The relationship between drummer, bassist & guitar is truly inspiring. Ray Gillen was taken too soon.
@electricglove
One of the best rock shows I’ve ever been to! 1992 Santa Anna Banana — For two & a half hours I felt like I knew what it must have been like to witness Zep or Hendrix in a club during their early days. Yes, BADLANDS rocked that hard!!! :)
@paulcerminara3107
Greatest album ever.
This stands up to any and all.
BADASSSSADAB
@schultzjohnd
Told my son to check out this song, the slide solo will bring a tear to your eye. He said, get out!
@JayTor2112
That rhythm section happening behind the solo is just as impressive as the solo.