Inner City Blues
Brian Auger's Oblivion Express Lyrics


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Dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Rockets, moon shots
Spend it on the have nots
Money, we make it
Fore we see it you take it
Oh, make you wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
This ain't livin', this ain't livin'
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
No, no, no
Inflation no chance
To increase finance
Bills pile up sky high
Send that boy off to die
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Hang ups, let downs
Bad breaks, set backs
Natural fact is
I can't pay my taxes
Oh, make me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Yea, it makes me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Crime is increasing
Trigger happy policing
Panic is spreading
God know where we're heading
Oh, make me wanna holler
They don't understand
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah

Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong




Who are they to judge us
Simply cause we wear our hair long

Overall Meaning

The song Inner City Blues by Brian Auger's Oblivion Express is a commentary on the state of living in a big city during the 1970s. The lyrics express frustration and anger towards financial struggles, inflation, taxes, and mistreatment by police. The repetition of "dah" throughout the song adds to the feeling of hopelessness and despair. The lyrics "Rockets, moon shots, Spend it on the have nots, Money, we make it, Fore we see it you take it" refers to the government's investment in space exploration while neglecting the needs of the underprivileged.


The chorus "Make me wanna holler, the way they do my life" is an expression of the singer's deep sadness and frustration at the injustice he sees around him. The line "Hang ups, let downs, bad breaks, set backs" represents the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of poverty and lack of opportunities. The song also touches upon the issue of racial discrimination, with the line "Simply cause we wear our hair long" highlighting the idea that people are judged based on their appearance rather than their character.


Line by Line Meaning

Dah, dah, dah, dah
Instrumental intro


Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Instrumental intro


Dah, dah, dah, dah
Instrumental transition


Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Instrumental transition


Dah, dah, dah
Instrumental transition


Rockets, moon shots
Spending large amounts of money on space exploration while neglecting social welfare programs


Spend it on the have nots
Not allocating enough resources to address poverty and inequality


Money, we make it
Generating wealth as a society


Fore we see it you take it
Having that wealth taken away through taxes and other forms of government revenue collection


Oh, make you wanna holler
Causing immense frustration and anger


The way they do my life
How the government and society at large treat individuals


Make me wanna holler
Causing immense frustration and anger


The way they do my life
How the government and society at large treat individuals


This ain't livin', this ain't livin'
Expressing dissatisfaction with the status quo


No, no baby, this ain't livin'
Rejecting the idea that this is a fulfilling way to live


No, no, no
Reinforcing the previous line


Inflation no chance
Not having the opportunity to keep up with inflation


To increase finance
Improving one's financial well-being


Bills pile up sky high
Being overwhelmed with debt


Send that boy off to die
Referring to the military draft and sending young men to war


Hang ups, let downs
Experiencing obstacles and disappointments


Bad breaks, set backs
Facing difficult circumstances and setbacks


Natural fact is
Accepting the reality of the situation


I can't pay my taxes
Struggling financially and being unable to afford taxes


Oh, make me wanna holler
Causing immense frustration and anger


And throw up both my hands
Feeling helpless and defeated


Yea, it makes me wanna holler
Causing immense frustration and anger


And throw up both my hands
Feeling helpless and defeated


Crime is increasing
Noticing a rise in criminal activity


Trigger happy policing
Police using deadly force too readily


Panic is spreading
A general sense of anxiety and fear permeating society


God know where we're heading
Suggesting uncertainty and doubt about the future


Oh, make me wanna holler
Causing immense frustration and anger


They don't understand
Feeling like those in power do not comprehend the struggles of everyday people


Mother, mother
Addressing one's own mother, or perhaps an embodiment of motherhood itself


Everybody thinks we're wrong
Perceived as wrong or deviant from dominant norms


Who are they to judge us
Questioning the moral authority of society's gatekeepers


Simply cause we wear our hair long
Being persecuted for non-conformity to traditional standards of appearance




Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Marvin Gaye, James Nyx

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Gordygrooveking

Mr Brian Auger smashing it up here with a brave fantastic cover of Marvin. Quality

@miknelak

The finest version of the Oblivion Express, I say! Alex is a fine vocalist, but Brian holds his own, with vocals, on this album. The compositions are excellent and the band is burnin'.....what's not to love and respect?

@bernardsmalls3385

Thanks for sharing! Heard these guys do this live when still in high school.. :)

@michaelross1339

Brian Auger is the sh*t. Love this version.

@joeybenoit6269

I remember my friend turned me on to this amazing Oblivion Express? A great cover of Marvin Gaye!

@davehales2249

I picked this up on a reissue 7 last week in a record shop in Dublin,ALLCITY,rec , what a tune

@lloydc3742

Inner City Blues is just as relevant today as it was in 1973. Nothing has changed.

@stevebehm

IT HAS CHANGED BACK THEN WE ACTUALLY HAD A MIDDLE CLASS WITH MAYBE ONE BEADWINNER TAXES WERE PAID WE DIDN' HAVE A 35 TRILLION DEBT WASNT EVEN 1. NOW WE HAVE ULTRA RICH FLYING SPACESHIPS TO GOD NO'S WERE THEY PAY NO TAXES BEING A MILLIONARE NOW PROBABLY MILLION . IF YOU LOVE MUSIC THE SEVEVTIES WHAT WE FAD MUSIC MADE YOU FEEL REAL WE ALL LOVED MUSIC IT MADE THE POWER OF MANYCAN BE MIGHTY STRONG AINT NO ONE GOING TELL WHAT TO THINK OR DO UNLESS YOU DON'T KNOW WONDER WHAT OBLIVION EXPREES WAS ABOUT MAYBE BRIAN WAS LOOKING AHEAD,ISN'T EVERY SONGS THE SAME JUST GET ON YTUBE ONE OF YHE FEW COOL PLACES JUSTTUNE IN AND YUNE OUT ART IS MORE CRUCIAL

@joeybenoit6269

Black white green gray blue we always stand together as brothers of one humanity!

@golf0723

Still relevant today....

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