The City
Bodhi Vs. George The Poet Lyrics

My City has a lot of faces
London is a diverse city with many different people and cultures.

Some can be found in forgotten places
Some parts of London are often overlooked or ignored.

Comfortably sound with a lot of graces
Despite its problems, London is still a great city to live in.

The Sun could be down on his hungry town but in London he found him a shot at greatness
London offers opportunities for success to those who are willing to work hard for it.

Some can tell you what a “loss of faith” is
Some people in London have experienced loss and struggle.

Be-Fore we hated people we were all created equal then we
Before we developed prejudices, we were all equal.

Learnt to despise the strife and
We learned to hate and avoid conflict.

Forgot that variety’s the spice of life – look around you
We forgot that differences make life interesting and enriching.

Constantly standing on the brink of history
London is a city that is always changing and evolving.

Watching Newsreaders linking mysteries
We are constantly bombarded with information from the media.

Even though a few reporters taught us to be cautious ‘cause they
Some journalists are not trustworthy and may mislead us.

Stink of this disease called inconsistency
Journalistic inconsistency makes it difficult to know what to believe.

See my city has a lot of faces
London is a city with many different personalities and characteristics.

Four of them belonging to Big Ben
Big Ben is one of the most recognizable landmarks in London.

The rest of them hidden behind big business and Big Brother
Much of London's identity is shaped by corporations and government surveillance.

Ensures all of them are monitored with them
The government keeps a close eye on its citizens.

Under social tensions you can see London languishes:
London is a city that struggles with social and economic inequality.

30% minorities, 300 languages
London is a city with a diverse population and many different languages.

Differences – race and class, it’s all enormous
The city is marked by significant differences in race and social class.

But the common ground we found surpasses all the borders
Despite our differences, we can still find things that bring us together.

If you meet a rich man, ass-kiss all his daughters…
Some people think that the best way to get ahead in London is to flatter the wealthy and powerful.

Or his sons. We all live once
However, we only have one life to live, regardless of our social status.

And who among us wouldn't want all of his funds?
Many people would like to be wealthy and successful.

That’s rhetorical but I don’t need call and response
The question is rhetorical and doesn't require an answer.

To know that’s how Londoners are from time to time
This desire for wealth and success is a common sentiment in London.

Only got the time to grind and whine
Londoners are often busy and may complain about their busy lives.

Technically I’m from an elegant city but I’m not the kind to wine and dine
The singer is from a posh area but doesn't enjoy fancy things.

I grew up around lots of crime, the violent kind
The artist has had first-hand experience with crime and violence in London.

You might have heard about the rocks, the grime, the hype and shine
London has a reputation for being gritty but also glamorous.

It’s not just Cockney rhyming slang, we've got block-beef, violent gangs
London is a city that struggles with gang violence and crime.

Awkward interactions which most don’t force
Many interactions in London can be uncomfortable and forced.

Children navigating through postcode wars
Children in certain neighborhoods may be affected by territorial conflicts between gangs.

In estates with the least funding, look at the state of East London
Some parts of London are underfunded and lack basic amenities.

That’s a paradox:
This is a strange and unfortunate situation.

Witness economy blooming for the have-a-lots:
Despite these issues, the economy in some parts of London is thriving.

Business is gonna be booming
Many businesses in London are successful and growing.

But there’s a difference between having a front row seat and watching from the sidelines
Some people are more involved in London's success than others.

TFL knows the world is your Oyster as long as you can afford it
Transport for London provides access to the city as long as you can pay for it.

Even though you might need to re-mortgage just to get from Aldwych to Shoreditch
Transportation costs in London can be prohibitively expensive.

Inconvenient if you’re poor, which
This is particularly troublesome for people living in poverty.

Could be expected in a tax system where the more rich get more rich
This is a result of an unfair tax system that favors the wealthy.

273 times the wealth of the poorest yet your door is next door to the extra poor
There is an enormous wealth gap in London, with the wealthiest people living next door to the poorest.

We look on the bright side but we’re vexed for sure
Despite the challenges, Londoners try to stay positive.

Like all we have to ourselves is sex and war
Some people feel like all they have are base desires and conflict.

And a lot of diversity, so what could I personally Hate a complexion for?
Despite differences in appearance, we should not hate each other.

I see different coloured hands outstretched for more
People of all races and backgrounds want more out of life.

Feel free to come to London and still see the London Dungeon
Despite its problems, London is still a popular tourist destination.

Experience a tube of mad claustrophobic's
London's underground transportation system can be overwhelming and uncomfortable.

Where food and bad posture don’t mix
Eating while on the tube can be awkward and uncomfortable.

And join us in moving along to the groove of the song
Despite everything, Londoners enjoy music and dancing.

What a sight to see, we could swap a nicety
It's nice to meet new people in London and exchange pleasantries.

Some of us feel you've forgotten my city
Some Londoners feel like the rest of the world doesn't understand their city.

But hopefully you’ll be proving us wrong
It's possible that the rest of the world will come to appreciate London's unique character.

If you can take the rough with the smooth then it’s on
If you're willing to accept London's challenges along with its charms, it's a great place to be.