Kansas City
Blues Balls Lyrics
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You only see so far
Hear what we say
If we put the truth in your hands
Would you really like to know
Kansas city milkman
Through the dawn
A sleeping city
Where I was born
I hear laughter
In the early light
Outside the playground
Were I learned to fight
Born in this place
You only see so far
Hear what we say
If we put the truth in your hands
Would you really like to know
Kansas city milkman
I read the papers
Every word
My only access
To the outside world
Yeah ... survival
That's my game
Just a common man
In that there is no shame ... is there? ...
Too much talking
Information ... in the hands of the few
All the talking
Dis-information ... that we take for the truth
Born in this place
You only see so far
Hear what we say
The world is a stage
And we know just who you are
What part do you play?
If we put the truth in your hands
Would you really like to know
Kansas city milkman
The lyrics to Blues Balls's song "Kansas City" describe the experience of growing up in a working-class neighborhood and feeling disconnected from the rest of the world. The singer is nostalgic for the simplicity of his childhood, represented by a row of houses and a playground, but also aware of the limitations of his surroundings ("born in this place, you only see so far"). He expresses a desire for truth and knowledge, but also recognizes the difficulty of obtaining it in a world where information is controlled by a few individuals and misinformation is often passed off as truth.
The repetition of the phrase "Kansas city milkman" throughout the song creates a sense of familiarity and comfort, as if the singer is holding onto a small piece of his childhood that is still accessible to him. The reference to reading newspapers as the only access to the outside world highlights a sense of isolation and the need for information to come from sources outside of one's immediate environment.
Line by Line Meaning
Born in this place
I was born and raised in Kansas City
You only see so far
The limitations of my surroundings mean my perspective is limited
Hear what we say
Listen to what we have to say about our experiences in this city
If we put the truth in your hands
If we give you the real details of our lives in Kansas City
Would you really like to know
Are you genuinely interested in learning about our reality?
Kansas city milkman
A reference to the Kansas City jazz scene and its musicians
A row of houses
The typical residential architecture of Kansas City
Through the dawn
At daybreak, observing the city as it wakes up
A sleeping city
While the city may be sleeping, life is still active for those residing there
Where I was born
Reflecting on my Kansas City roots
I hear laughter
Noting the joy and playfulness that exists among residents of the city
In the early light
As the sun rises and the day begins
Outside the playground
A setting where I learned to stand up for myself
Were I learned to fight
Where I gained resilience and toughness
I read the papers
My primary access to information about the world outside of Kansas City
Every word
Absorbing as much as I can of the news from beyond my hometown
My only access
Lacking other sources for information or experiences beyond Kansas City
To the outside world
All I know about the world and its happenings is from what I read in the news
Yeah ... survival
Making do with what you have, and getting by with limited resources
That's my game
My way of getting ahead and thriving in this environment
Just a common man
An ordinary person, like many others in Kansas City
In that there is no shame ... is there? ...
Questioning whether or not it's acceptable to exist as an average person with limited opportunities
Too much talking
There's too much pointless, behind-the-scenes discussion happening
Information ... in the hands of the few
Those who control the flow of information have too much power and agency
All the talking
Everyone seems to be gossiping about each other
Dis-information ... that we take for the truth
We don't know what to believe anymore with so many opposing viewpoints circulating
The world is a stage
Life can feel performative and stilted, like a play
And we know just who you are
We are keenly aware of people's true natures and intentions
What part do you play?
What role are you fulfilling in this grand performance of life?
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: WALIOU JACQUES BADAROU, PHILIP GABRIEL GOULD, MARK KING, MICHAEL DAVID LINDUP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pappy Fiddle
There just ain't enough of this stuff in the world
mandlnpickr
Bill Monroe has a really cool version of this tune on the Smithsonian Folkways album. He calls it "Kansas City Railroad Blues." This song has some tricky rhythm...great job as always.
stevesprinceofsteaks
Great job. Hope you are still fiddling. Post some more of your great playing when you aren't chasing those boys. lol
Chuck Hutchison
Kansas City Breakman Blues, now that's one you don't hear a lot of fiddlers play. It's a nice one. Old fiddler I know still plays that one and it's always been a favorite of mine. Great job playing it and also your seconds do an excellent job chording. Thanks for sharing!
Tony Thomas
GREAT FIDDLEING TONY