<… Read Full Bio ↴What can you say about Everette Harp, smooth, real smooth sax playing!
Everette Harp started playing piano at two and began practicing saxophone at the age of four. The youngest of the eight children of a minister, gospel music was one of Harp's earliest influences. Harp started playing jazz in high school, and graduated from North Texas State University with a music major in the early 1980s. While there he joined Phi Beta Sigma. Working as an accountant for a short time, Harp played in local bands before moving to Los Angeles in 1988. He immediately toured briefly with Teena Marie, and then internationally with Anita Baker. In 1992, Harp released his self-titled solo debut.
Soon after Harp played at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and began weekly appearances on The Arsenio Hall Show. He continued to play & tour with notables, including Chaka Khan, George Duke, Chante Moore, Anita Baker, Kenny Loggins, Brenda Russell, Marcus Miller, Dianne Reeves, and many more. Harp is also known for his performances with Marcus Miller along with David Sanborn and Wayne Shorter. In the past few years Harp has reduced his side gigs to focus on his solo career. Harp has also performed at the Omaha Blues, Jazz, & Gospel Festival held annually in North Omaha, Nebraska in August. He also performed "Soul Train '93" (You Know You Want to Dance)" with the rap group Naughty by Nature in 1993.
Inner City Blues
Everette Harp 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
The song "Inner City Blues" by Everette Harp is a powerful commentary on the struggles faced by African Americans and those living in poverty in America. The lyrics use a combination of metaphor and straight talk to describe the harsh realities of living in the inner city, where poverty, crime, and police brutality are rampant.
The opening lines of the song, "Rockets, moon shots, spend it on the have nots, money, we make it, fore we see it you take it," describe the social and economic inequality that exists in America. The verses go on to describe the difficulty of paying bills, rising inflation rates, and the despair that comes with being unable to keep up with the escalating cost of living. Harp sings, "Oh, make me wanna holler, and throw up both my hands, yea, it makes me wanna holler, and throw up both my hands."
Harp also addresses the issue of police brutality, singing, "Crime is increasing, trigger happy policing, panic is spreading, God know where we're heading." The song is a powerful call to action, urging listeners to recognize the pain and oppression faced by those living in the inner city and to work towards creating a more just and equitable society.
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, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Rockets, moon shots
Money is being spent on expensive programs like space exploration while the less fortunate struggle.
Spend it on the have nots
The money spent on these programs could be better spent helping the less fortunate.
Money, we make it
We are making money through hard work.
Fore we see it you take it
We are being taxed heavily before we can even use our hard-earned money.
Oh, make you wanna holler
These circumstances are frustrating.
The way they do my life
The system is not fair to those who are struggling.
Make me wanna holler
These circumstances are frustrating.
This ain't livin', this ain't livin'
Our current state is not truly living.
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
The current system is not allowing us to truly live.
No, no, no
Inflation no chance
Inflation is making it difficult to keep up financially.
To increase finance
It's difficult to increase our financial situation with this inflation.
Bills pile up sky high
The cost of living is becoming increasingly expensive.
Send that boy off to die
Our country is sending people off to war for questionable reasons.
Hang ups, let downs
Our lives are filled with disappointments and setbacks.
Bad breaks, set backs
Our lives are filled with disappointments and setbacks.
Natural fact is
The truth is,
I can't pay my taxes
The taxes are too high for me to afford.
Oh, make me wanna holler
These circumstances are frustrating.
And throw up both my hands
It's a hopeless situation.
Yea, it makes me wanna holler
These circumstances are frustrating.
Crime is increasing
There is more crime happening in our communities.
Trigger happy policing
Police are quick to use deadly force.
Panic is spreading
People are becoming more afraid and uncertain about the future.
God know where we're heading
We don't know what the future holds.
Oh, make me wanna holler
These circumstances are frustrating.
They don't understand
The people in power seem to be out of touch with the struggles of everyday people.
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Mother, mother
This is addressed to someone who is like a mother figure.
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Others do not understand our way of life.
Who are they to judge us
We don't feel that others have the right to judge us for our choices.
Simply cause we wear our hair long
Others are judging us for something as trivial as our hairstyle.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Marvin Gaye, James Nyx
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind