My People
Cha Wa Lyrics

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Rich people living in paradise
Poor people under the bridge at night, oh yeah
Most people know what it takes to survive
But my people know how to do it and thrive, oh yeah

My people, we′ve been left behind before
My people, devil's knocking on your door
My people, sad so many had to go

My people, said we still here, and one day
We gon′ all be in the same boat

Rich people still living high and dry
Poor people, they watching the waters rise, oh yeah
Most people don't even bat an eye
But my people know that it's real this time, oh yeah

My people, we′ve been left behind before
My people, devil′s knocking on your door
My people, sad so many had to go
My people, we still here, and one day
We gon' all be in the same boat

Sing, all be in the same boat, yeah

My people, we′ve been left behind before
My people, devil's knocking on your door
My people, sad so many had to go
My people, said we still here, and one day
We gon′ all be in the same boat

My people, we've been left behind before
My people, devil′s knocking on your door now, baby
My people, sad so many had to go
My people, said we still here, and one day
We gon' all be in the same boat

My people, we've been left behind before
My people, devil′s knocking on your door
My people, sad so many had to go

My people, we still here, and one day
We gon′ all be in the same boat

Overall Meaning

The song "My People" by Cha Wa is a powerful commentary on the disparities between the rich and poor in society. The lyrics contrast the luxuries afforded to the wealthy with the struggles of those living in poverty, particularly people of color. The lines "Rich people living in paradise, Poor people under the bridge at night" paint a vivid picture of the vast divide between the haves and have-nots in the world. However, the song's ultimate message is one of hopefulness, as the singer acknowledges that their people have been left behind before, but they know how to overcome adversity and thrive nonetheless. The repeated line "We gon' all be in the same boat" is a poignant reminder that, despite our differences in wealth and circumstance, we are all human and will ultimately face the same challenges together.

Overall, "My People" is a powerful song that speaks to issues of inequality, resilience, and human connection. It offers both a sobering critique of society's injustices and a hopeful vision of unity and solidarity.

Line by Line Meaning

Rich people living in paradise
While the wealthy live luxuriously in their man-made paradise

Poor people under the bridge at night, oh yeah
Those less fortunate are forced to seek shelter under bridges in the darkness of night

Most people know what it takes to survive
Many individuals have an understanding of what is necessary to merely exist day to day

But my people know how to do it and thrive, oh yeah
My people possess the skills and perseverance to go beyond mere survival and actually flourish despite adversity

My people, we’ve been left behind before
My people have faced neglect and abandonment in the past

My people, devil’s knocking on your door
The evil and hardships of life are ever-present and continually threaten to harm my people

My people, sad so many had to go
It is grievous that so many of my people have faced tragic circumstances and have had to depart

My people, said we still here, and one day
Despite the setbacks faced, my people maintain that we still exist and at some point in the future

We gon’ all be in the same boat
All individuals will eventually find themselves in a position of shared experience and circumstance

Rich people still living high and dry
The wealthy continue to live in their comfortable, sheltered lives unaffected by the struggles of those less fortunate

Poor people, they watching the waters rise, oh yeah
Those struggling to make ends meet bear the brunt of the hardships and are the first to feel the effects of any problems society encounters

Most people don't even bat an eye
The majority of people are apathetic or oblivious to the struggles of others

But my people know that it's real this time, oh yeah
My people are acutely aware of the severity of the problems and dangers facing society at present

Sing, all be in the same boat, yeah
A call to join together in unity despite the differences that separate us

My people, devil’s knocking on your door now, baby
The aforementioned problems are looming larger and closer, threatening my people

Writer(s): Andrew Yanovski, Aurelien Barnes

Contributed by Daniel F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

Lisa Lyons

3y↑19

What a amazing song. The talent in this group is incredible

J R42

2y↑2

Fantastic to see that Cha Wa is still around. I have an embarrassing story about the one time I saw them live! They were up in Pennsylvania, opening for The Dirty Dozen, Cha Wa blew me away and stole the show. The band came out to do some signings and suchlike. I was talking to the drummer, horn player, etc, another dude came up and I basically ignored him... For what it's worth, I usually try to spend my time in those kind of situations with the people who are not the star, but without the wig and costume, I didn't recognize him at all! I literally cut him off, as he was trying to speak to me, so I could finish my conversation with their horn player.... It wasn't until a day later that I realized who that person was...