Sun City
DAVE RODGERS S.G. J.BATTEN Lyrics
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Praying hands hold me down
Only the hunter was hunted
In this tin can town
Tin can town
No stars in the black night
Looks like the sky fell down
Looks like it's chained to the ground
Chained to the ground
The warden said
"The exit is sold
If you want a way out
Silver and gold"
Broken back to the ceiling
Broken nose to the floor
I scream at the silence, it's crawling
It crawls under the door
There's a rope around my neck
And there's a trigger in your gun
Jesus say something
I am someone, I am someone
I am someone
Captain and kings
In the ships hold
They came to collect
Silver and gold
Silver and gold
Seen the coming and the going
Seen them captains and the kings
See them navy blue uniforms
See them bright and shiny things
Bright shiny things, yeah
The temperature is rising
The fever white hot
Mister, I ain't got nothing
But it's more than you got
Chains no longer bind me
Not the shackles at my feet
Outside are the prisoners
Inside the free
Set them free
Set them free
A prize fighter in a corner is told
Hit where it hurts
Silver and gold
Silver and gold
Yeah, silver and gold
This song was written in a hotel room in New York City
Right about the time a friend of ours, Little Steven
Was putting together a record of artists against apartheids
It's a song written about a man in a shanty town outside of Johannesburg
A man who's sick of looking down the barrel of white South Africa
A man who is at the point where he is ready to take up arms against his oppressor
A man who has lost faith in the peace makers of the West
While they argue and while they fail to support a man like Bishop Tutu
And his request for economic sanctions against South Africa
Am I bugging you?
Don't mean to bug ya
Ok Edge, play the blues
The lyrics to "Sun City" by Dave Rodgers S.G. J.Batten tell the story of a man living in a tin can town, surrounded by violence and oppression. He feels hunted by the "hunter," likely a reference to the white police or government officials in apartheid-era South Africa. The imagery of the night sky and daylight being without stars and sun respectively emphasizes the darkness and hopelessness he feels. The warden of this prison-like town tells him the only way out is with "silver and gold," implying that money is the only way to escape.
The second half of the song shifts perspective to a different narrator, who has witnessed the exploitation and oppression of South Africans by the white ruling class. "Captain and kings in the ships hold" refers to European exploration and colonization of Africa, while "navy blue uniforms" likely symbolize the police and military forces enforcing apartheid laws.
The chorus of "silver and gold" takes on different meanings throughout the song. It is both a symbol of the wealth and power held by those in control, and a reminder that those with financial resources have the means to escape their circumstances. The final lines, "Set them free / A prize fighter in a corner is told / Hit where it hurts / Silver and gold," suggest that the solution to breaking free from oppression is not just wealth, but also directed action against those in power.
Line by Line Meaning
In the shit house a shotgun
A person is stuck in a terrible place with nothing but a shotgun
Praying hands hold me down
Feeling trapped and helpless
Only the hunter was hunted
The oppressed has become the oppressor
In this tin can town
Living in a small, impoverished community
No stars in the black night
Hopelessness and despair
Looks like the sky fell down
The situation is so bleak that it seems like the end of the world
No sun in the daylight
Lack of hope for a brighter future
Looks like it's chained to the ground
Feeling stuck in a hopeless situation
The warden said
A person in authority
"The exit is sold
The only way out is to have enough money to buy freedom
If you want a way out
Escape is only possible through wealth
Silver and gold"
The only currency of value in this oppressive system
Broken back to the ceiling
Feelings of physical and emotional pain
Broken nose to the floor
Stripped of dignity and respect
I scream at the silence, it's crawling
Desperation and loneliness
It crawls under the door
The feeling of being trapped with no escape
There's a rope around my neck
Feeling like one's life is in danger
And there's a trigger in your gun
Oppressor has the power to take away a person's life
Jesus say something
Praying for salvation and help
I am someone, I am someone
Struggling for identity and recognition
Captain and kings
The wealthy and powerful
In the ships hold
They hold the key to one's freedom
They came to collect
Exploiting those who are weakened by their oppression
Seen the coming and the going
Experienced the same struggles over and over again
Seen them captains and the kings
The powerful and wealthy who hold the oppressed down
See them navy blue uniforms
The authorities who enforce the oppressive laws
See them bright and shiny things
The material wealth and status that are used to maintain the oppressive system
The temperature is rising
The pressure and intensity of the situation is increasing
The fever white hot
The intensity of emotions is overwhelming
Mister, I ain't got nothing
The oppressed has nothing to lose
But it's more than you got
The oppressor is lacking in empathy and humanity
Chains no longer bind me
Breaking free from oppression
Not the shackles at my feet
Being free from physical restraints
Outside are the prisoners
Those who are still oppressed and suffering
Inside the free
Freedom of the mind and spirit
Set them free
Calling for liberation and justice for all
A prize fighter in a corner is told
Feeling trapped and alone, fighting for survival
Hit where it hurts
Finding a way to fight back against the oppressor
Yeah, silver and gold
Reinforcing the idea that wealth is the only way to escape oppression
This song was written in a hotel room in New York City
The origins of the song
Right about the time a friend of ours, Little Steven
The context in which the song was written
Was putting together a record of artists against apartheids
The political climate in which the song was written
It's a song written about a man in a shanty town outside of Johannesburg
The subject of the song
A man who's sick of looking down the barrel of white South Africa
The personal struggles and oppression faced by the subject
A man who is at the point where he is ready to take up arms against his oppressor
The desperation and anger felt by the subject
A man who has lost faith in the peace makers of the West
The lack of hope in external intervention
While they argue and while they fail to support a man like Bishop Tutu
The frustration with the lack of action and support from those who could help
And his request for economic sanctions against South Africa
The political movement for change
Am I bugging you?
Addressing the listener directly
Don't mean to bug ya
Trying to connect with the listener
Ok Edge, play the blues
Ending the song on a musical note
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul Hewson, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Adam Clayton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind