A Detroit, Michigan … Read Full Bio ↴Carla Cook is a Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist.
A Detroit, Michigan native, music seized hold of Cook at an early age. As a student at Cass Technical High School she played string bass in the school orchestra, studied piano and voice on weekends, and sang in her church’s choir. An elder brother introduced her to jazz, Cook chose voice as her instrument of choice, and she became a disciple of jazz icon Eddie Jefferson, founder of a singing technique called ‘vocalese’ where a singer sings lyrics to a famous instrumental solo. During this time she and close friend Regina Carter formed dreams of becoming jazz musicians; Cook as a singer, and Carter as a violinist. At Carter’s urging she applied to and was accepted by Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. While at Northeastern she remained in close contact with Carter (who was studying at the New England Conservatory of Music and met Cyrus Chestnut, a jazz pianist studying at nearby Berklee School of Music. After graduating from Northeastern in 1985 Cook remained in Boston preparing herself for a career singing jazz in New York. In February of 1990 she moved to New York and supported herself as a school teacher and book seller during the day, and singing at night. After five years she traveled to Europe and from 1993-1994 Cook served as a guest vocal and ensemble instructor at the Jazzschule in Basel, Switzerland, and Jazz and Rock Schule in Freiburg, Germany. She returned to New York two years later and her work included singing with Lionel Hampton’s Orchestra and George Gee’s Make Believe Ballroom Orchestra. In 1998 she signed with MaxJazz, a fledgling music label, and that year she released her first CD, ‘It’s All About Love’, to great acclaim, including a best jazz vocal Grammy nomination. Her second CD, ‘Dem Bones’ (a tribute to all the trombone players she’d worked with in the Lionel Hampton and George Gee groups), released in 2001, was also a success, and received a glowing review from Down Beat magazine, the leading jazz publication. In 2002 she released her CD ‘Simply Natural’, which was inspired by her love for the beauty found in nature.
Cook performs globally both with her own groups, most notably 'the Carla Cook Quintet', and as a guest soloist with artists including Eric Reed and old friends Regina Carter and Cyrus Chestnut (both of whom have become young luminaries in the jazz world). Her eclectic venues include the digital realm as she is featured as a character in the Sony Playstation game, ‘Parappa the Rapper II’, and she has said that it is a dream of hers to appear with her favorite characters on Sesame Street.
Inner City Blues
Carla Cook Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
Carla Cook's "Inner City Blues" is a powerful commentary on the state of society in America during the Civil Rights movement. The opening lines are almost indistinguishable, with four consecutive "dahs" before the real lyrics begin. This repetition serves as a sort of drumbeat, like the ever-present reality of the struggles for Black people in America. The first verse speaks of the government's focus on space exploration and technology at the expense of the poor, who are left to suffer. The lyrics suggest that those in power make money and take resources from the poor without consideration of the dire needs of those communities. The chorus repeats, "Make me wanna holler, the way they do my life," expressing the frustration and hopelessness that accompanies being disregarded and exploited.
The second verse speaks to the economic struggles faced by Black people, especially in comparison to the wealthy and powerful. Cook sings, "Inflation no chance, to increase finance, bills pile up sky high, send that boy off to die," conveying the idea that the cards are stacked against Black people, making it impossible to get ahead, and they are disproportionately affected by the draft. The chorus repeats again, communicating the overwhelming feeling of powerlessness. The third verse delves deeper into the issues of crime, police brutality, and fear, touching on a theme that is still very much present in today's society. The song ends with "Mother, mother, everybody thinks we're wrong, who are they to judge us, simply cause we wear our hair long" which is a nod to the discrimination that Black people face in every aspect of life, even down to the way they choose to wear their hair.
Line by Line Meaning
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Introduction to the song
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Repetition of the introduction
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Conclusion of the introduction
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Repetition of the conclusion
Dah, dah, dah
Transition to the first verse
Rockets, moon shots
Spending money on grandiose projects
Spend it on the have nots
Neglecting to provide for those in need
Money, we make it
Earning money through hard work
Fore we see it you take it
Taxes and other deductions taking away earned money
Oh, make you wanna holler
Expressing frustration and anger
The way they do my life
Referring to the oppressive systems in place
Make me wanna holler
Reiterating frustration and anger
This ain't livin', this ain't livin'
Expressing dissatisfaction with the current state of life
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
Further emphasizing dissatisfaction with life
No, no, no
Conclusion to the first verse
Inflation no chance
Inability to keep up with rising costs
To increase finance
Difficulty in increasing financial stability
Bills pile up sky high
Accumulation of unaffordable bills
Send that boy off to die
Sacrificing young lives for political gain
Make me wanna holler
Frustration and anger continue
The way they do my life
Oppressive systems continue to negatively impact life
Make me wanna holler
Reiteration of frustration and anger
Dah, dah, dah
Transition to the chorus
Dah, dah, dah
Repetition of the transition
Hang ups, let downs
Experiencing setbacks and disappointments
Bad breaks, set backs
Further emphasizing setbacks and disappointments
Natural fact is
Acknowledgement of the reality of the situation
I can't pay my taxes
Inability to fulfill financial obligations
Oh, make me wanna holler
Frustration and anger continue
And throw up both my hands
Feeling overwhelmed and defeated
Yea, it makes me wanna holler
Reiteration of frustration and anger
And throw up both my hands
Reiteration of feeling overwhelmed and defeated
Crime is increasing
Rising crime rates
Trigger happy policing
Reckless and abusive policing tactics
Panic is spreading
Widespread fear and anxiety
God know where we're heading
Uncertainty about the future
Oh, make me wanna holler
Frustration and anger continue
They don't understand
Lack of empathy and understanding from those in power
Dah, dah, dah
Repetition of the transition
Dah, dah, dah
Conclusion to the chorus
Mother, mother
Introduction to the final verse
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Being judged and misunderstood by society
Who are they to judge us
Questioning the legitimacy of societal judgment
Simply cause we wear our hair long
Being judged for harmless personal choices
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Marvin Gaye, James Nyx
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tomtheeagle1
A seriously underrated singer and a lovely human being to boot!
@ThePamelaFactor
Wow, This is great stuff. What a talent!
@jrchum
great stuff! absolutely love this!
@TSquared2001
CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED
@clilaux
brilliant version
@colettetoutant5179
Géniale cette Carla Cook!
@willowclay3137
Beautiful!
@Obidibidou
Nice version!
@marcomontironi8637
FORTE!!!!!!
@PeacefulRuler
That's great work. Seriously...