Letter From The Government
Brother Ali Lyrics


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(Chorus x2)
I got a letter from the government the other day
I opened and read and burned that man
The way that I live don't concern that man
We gon' have to settle this another way

(Verse 1)
When the knuckles turn white and the eyes begin bulging
I take an honest look at my life its insulting
And I been sulking about it all week
Hearing the dull screech of metal grinding the concrete
And sparks dance where the worst of both worlds clash
Meaning the blue tyrants and my broke ass
I understand this is pawn take pawn shit
But I'll be damned if you shoot me on my lawn bitch
Think twice before shining that light
In my drawers in the alley in the middle of the night
Garbage bag and house shoes put two and two together
I ain't no drug smuggler I'm a struggling brother
I have this dream where I go nuts
Dial 911 from the roof and post up
Decorate your hard head when you came in the cruiser
And paint your rod red in the name of Abruka

(Chorus x2)

(Verse 2)
What kind of sucker would I have to be after these years
Of you harassing and attacking me to run and join your cavalry
Imagine me all GI Joe'd up in Afghanistan somewhere prepared to go nuts
You clinically crazy if you think you could pay me
A figure that could make me slay these innocent babies
I identify with a slave wishing to break free
He was victimised by the same system that raped me
Look at us poor just trying to get our foot in the door
And unfortunatley hooked in this war
We were both coerced to get enlisted
But his was with a trigger mine was living conditions
We're one in the same but in the name of some freedom
I'm supposed to put one in his brain like something will change
What freedom? I ain't writing for no president
Send the kids to die when we didn't even elect the bitch

(Chorus x2)

Listen I'm in no position to judge a young stud
Tryn'a use the military to come the fuck up
Cos self preservation is the first law of nature
Play your cards smart remember what the fucks up
Its really no different from crack pedaling when it
Comes to dying and killing for a dream you were given
Last thing in your mind is how you seen by the system
N' be willing to go to those extremes for your vision
Shit I'm no smarter I'm fucking retarded
I just know enough to not eat directly where the dog shits
If Uncle Sam wants to threaten my health
Tell him he have to come and get me himself
...Motherfucker





(Chorus x2)

Overall Meaning

The song "Letter From The Government" by Brother Ali is a powerful protest against the injustices of the government and law enforcement in the United States. The chorus repeats the line "I got a letter from the government the other day, I opened and read and burned that man. The way that I live don't concern that man, we gon' have to settle this another way," indicating a sense of anger and frustration with the way things are in society.


In the first verse, Brother Ali talks about the tension between law enforcement and individuals who are struggling to make a living. He mentions "blue tyrants" and his own "broke ass," illustrating the power dynamic at play. He also discusses the fear he feels when encountering police at night, even though he is not doing anything illegal. The line "I ain't no drug smuggler, I'm a struggling brother" speaks to the way people of color are often stereotyped as criminals simply for existing in a low-income area.


In the second verse, Brother Ali delves into the issue of young people being recruited into the military, with promises of "freedom" and a better life. However, he points out that these same individuals are often victims of the same government system that created poverty and inequality in the first place. The line "what freedom? I ain't writing for no president" underscores his belief that systemic change is needed, not band-aid solutions like military service.


Overall, "Letter From The Government" is a powerful and timely song that speaks to the ongoing struggles of marginalized communities in the United States.


Line by Line Meaning

I got a letter from the government the other day
I received a letter from the government, which refers to the authorities responsible for governing the country, recently


I opened and read and burned that man
I opened and read the letter but did not find anything useful or relevant in it, discarding the letter


The way that I live don't concern that man
The government in question does not have any relevant information or useful insights on how I choose to live my life


We gon' have to settle this another way
There needs to be an alternative and better way to come up with a resolution to the disagreement or disagreement in question


When the knuckles turn white and the eyes begin bulging
When I am exceedingly angry or upset with the situation, I start clenching my fists and my eyes become wider than usual


I take an honest look at my life its insulting
I always look at my life objectively and realize it is quite an unpleasant situation to live in


And I been sulking about it all week
I have been feeling unhappy and miserable for an extended period and expressing it in a passive way


Hearing the dull screech of metal grinding the concrete
The sounds of vehicles moving feels unpleasant and irritating


And sparks dance where the worst of both worlds clash
When there is a clash between opposing groups or factions, the situation becomes intense and sparks fly as a result


Meaning the blue tyrants and my broke ass
The conflict is between the police, who are often infamous for their brutality and power, and my financial and social instability


I understand this is pawn take pawn shit
The conflict is between two weak and vulnerable groups or individuals fighting among themselves, neglecting the bigger picture.


But I'll be damned if you shoot me on my lawn bitch
If something unfortunate happens as a result of this conflict, I refuse to be a victim, in this case, a shooting victim on my own property


Think twice before shining that light
Be aware of the consequences of your actions, specifically the use of force against me


In my drawers in the alley in the middle of the night
Finding someone in embarrassing or intimate situations in dark and shady areas is a recipe for disaster


Garbage bag and house shoes put two and two together
When you see me in ordinary and absurd situations, it does not mean I am up to something shady, put the pieces together.


I ain't no drug smuggler I'm a struggling brother
Contrary to the assumptions made by certain authorities, I am not involved in any illegal activity like drug smuggling but instead trying to make ends meet as a struggling member of society


I have this dream where I go nuts
I often fantasize about breaking free from my miserable existence and causing mayhem.


Dial 911 from the roof and post up
I will use the emergency hotline to ask for help while hiding on the roof and remaining hidden from view.


Decorate your hard head when you came in the cruiser
When you show up in your cruiser, expect a violent response from me.


And paint your rod red in the name of Abruka
I will not hesitate to use extreme force to resist unreasonable authority and defend my honor, with a reference to a phrase related to resistance.


What kind of sucker would I have to be after these years
After experiencing several experiences of harassment and suppression, it would be foolish to expect me to be gullible and ignorant


Of you harassing and attacking me to run and join your cavalry
Being subject to constant harassment and oppression by the government, it is not realistic to expect me to desire to join them in any capacity.


Imagine me all GI Joe'd up in Afghanistan somewhere prepared to go nuts
Picturing myself as a soldier with the objective of fighting in Afghanistan, which is absurd and misguided.


You clinically crazy if you think you could pay me
The idea of me compromising my moral values in exchange for money is insane and unrealistic.


A figure that could make me slay these innocent babies
No amount of compensation can force me to carry out grotesque and immoral acts like killing innocent children.


I identify with a slave wishing to break free
I can relate to the experiences of enslaved individuals who desire nothing else but freedom from their oppressors.


He was victimised by the same system that raped me
Just like the enslaved individuals, I too have suffered at the hands of the system responsible for maintaining justice and order in society.


Look at us poor just trying to get our foot in the door
Both enslaved individuals from the past and struggling individuals today, are fighting to gain entry into the societies that marginalize and oppress them.


And unfortunatley hooked in this war
Unfortunately, my lack of choice in participating in wars or conflicts has made me a pawn or victim of circumstances.


We were both coerced to get enlisted
Both the enslaved individuals and people like me who did not choose to participate in wars, and were coerced or forced to do so, share a similar fate.


But his was with a trigger mine was living conditions
While the enslaved individuals were forced to work under deplorable conditions, my suffering is from my living conditions.


We're one in the same but in the name of some freedom
Despite our similar conditions, people like me and enslaved individuals from the past, are not afforded similar liberties or freedoms we seek.


I'm supposed to put one in his brain like something will change
The expectation of people like me to participate and take out our frustration by killing people in wars or conflicts, is misguided and will not lead to any meaningful change.


What freedom? I ain't writing for no president
The idea of being able to write to the president and voice concerns is a false promise, and I have no reason to believe in it or to do it.


Send the kids to die when we didn't even elect the bitch
The decision to send young people in wars or conflicts, a decision made by persons in power, is arbitrary and not the will of the youth or the citizens


Listen I'm in no position to judge a young stud
I have no right to judge young people or discourage them from doing what they think is best for them.


Tryn'a use the military to come the fuck up
Attempting to achieve personal gains or success by joining the military is misguided and selfish.


Cos self preservation is the first law of nature
One's natural priority is to preserve oneself and look out for their safety before anything else.


Play your cards smart remember what the fucks up
One should be aware of their surroundings and be smart about their actions, ensuring they are aware of the situation they are in.


Its really no different from crack pedaling when it
Participating in wars or conflicts with the purpose of gaining financial or personal success is no different than illegal drug dealings.


Comes to dying and killing for a dream you were given
Giving your life or taking the lives of others in the name of a dream or promise given to you, is a foolish and misguided decision.


Last thing in your mind is how you seen by the system
When you are risking your life or taking the lives of others in wars or conflicts, being perceived favorably by the system or the government is the last thing on your mind.


N' be willing to go to those extremes for your vision
Going to extreme measures like risking your life or killing others in the name of a goal or vision, is not a wise or ethical decision.


Shit I'm no smarter I'm fucking retarded
While I am not a genius or particularly gifted, I am not stupid or mentally challenged


I just know enough to not eat directly where the dog shits
I am astute enough to identify potentially hazardous or unpleasant situations, and avoid taking dangerous risks.


If Uncle Sam wants to threaten my health
If the government, especially in the United States, threatens or endangers my health or well-being,


Tell him he have to come and get me himself
I will not compromise on my values or beliefs, and if the government wants to harm me in any way, they will have to do it themselves.


Motherfucker
An expression of severe anger or frustration, directed towards someone or something, used to convey disrespect or contempt for the situation.




Contributed by Eva O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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