50 Thousand Deep
Blue Scholars Lyrics

Yo, the body rock stopped, probably got caught by the cops Nearby somebody got shot
The party was stopped abruptly, which could be because of the cops arresting someone who was nearby and someone also got shot in the area.

But parties don't stop, and the parties don't care It's a stick up: that's why we got our hands in the air
Despite the incident, the party continues, and people don't seem to care about the situation. They raise their hands as if they're being held up, indicating that they continue to enjoy the party even though there's some danger involved.

Still demanding a share, refrigerators bare Cause they wanna see trade get free and not fair But we are not blind, we are not there We don't got time left to spare to not care
People are still fighting for their fair share, and they think the current trade policies are not beneficial for them. However, they are not ignorant, and they don't have any illusions about the current situation. They don't have the luxury of not caring, and they need to take action to demand what's fair.

On the last day in November, swellin' in ranks Went to chant down the mighty IMF and World Bank A gathering of people in peaceful assembly Onward to Westlake to disrupt the entry
On November 30th, there was a significant gathering of people who came together to protest against the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. They marched peacefully towards Westlake to disrupt the entry into the event.

Walk along steady, riot squad ready To protect every last dignitary's ass But this started when they herded us like cattle in a fence Protesters getting restless without an exit
The protesters were walking forward steadily, with the police squad ready to protect the dignitaries attending the IMF and World Bank event. However, the situation turned violent when the protesters were contained in a small area, unable to move or leave, causing them to get restless.

They threatened to arrest us, we pushed back and then A hail of rubber bullets hit teens and old men I admit, had to split when the first gas canisters hit Felt it burn in my eyes, nose and lips
The protesters resisted when threatened with arrest, resulting in the police officers firing rubber bullets, injuring both young and old. The singer had to leave when the police used gas canisters, and they felt the burning sensation in their eyes, nose, and lips.

But they distort it in the news, talkin' bout stompin' down Nike town, wearin' their shoes
The media distorted the facts and reported that the protesters were vandalizing Nike Town and wearing the shoes they stole, portraying them in a negative light.

50,000 deep, and it sound like thunder when our feet pound streets 50,000 deep, and it sound like thunder when our feet pound streets 50,000 deep, and it sound like thunder when our feet pound streets 50,000 deep, 50,000 deep
The massive crowd of 50,000 people marching together on the street creates a sound like thunder with their collective footfalls.

Yo, the body rock stopped, probably got caught by the cops Nearby somebody got shot But parties don't stop in the South So take your shoes off for you come into my house
The party was interrupted again, with someone getting caught by the cops, and another person getting shot. However, parties don't stop in the South, and the artist asks the guests to take off their shoes before coming inside their house.

I had to duck out cause I knew I stuck out in the crowd after many years growing up Brown in this town Now this is what democracy looks like, not what you all had in mind for tonight Mr. Mayor, shellshocked for five days straight Press conference, looking constipated and pale Tossed a homie in jail, wasn't even protesting Wrong place, wrong time, learned a quick lesson
The artist felt uncomfortable and had to leave the crowd because they realized they stood out as a brown person in the predominantly white crowd. They commented that this is what democracy looks like, which is different from what people expected that night. The mayor was in shock for five days, and during the press conference, he looked uncomfortable and pale. The artist also mentioned that a friend of theirs got arrested, but they weren't even protesting and were at the wrong place and time.

But was it worth it? My first inclination, globalization is the root of the pain Made the reason that they left and the reason that we came Catch my breath, blood pulsates my brain And they call it a riot? Huh... I call it an uprising And they call this a riot? But nah, I call it an uprising And they call this a riot? Nah man, fuck that, I'ma call it an uprising
The singer questioned whether their efforts were worth it. They believed that globalization was the source of their pain, which caused people to leave their homes and come to this country. The singer was catching their breath, with the blood rushing through their veins. Instead of calling it a riot, they saw it as an uprising against the current conditions.