Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

Working Poor
Fantastic Negrito Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Working poor
Their mind is on vacation
That man he cracked that whip
And beat you down

Well I keep on knocking
I keep on knocking but I can't get in

I feel like it's over
Him clean my city
Me sell my soul
Him evil genius
turned working people
Into the working poor

Well I keep on knocking
I keep on knocking but I can't get in

Sip fancy coffees
Step over body
Outside he door
Him fancy condo
He she call PO PO
me sing too loud

Don't sell your life
Well I keep on knocking
I keep on knocking but I can't get in

Me move to Stockton
Him fed him monster
I can't live here no more
Sip holy water
Turned working people
Into the working poor

Well I keep on knocking
I keep on knocking but I can't get in

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Fantastic Negrito's "Working Poor" are a chilling indictment of the systemic economic inequality and exploitation that plagues modern society. The song tells the story of working-class people who have been pushed to the brink of poverty by the machinations of the wealthy and powerful.


The first verse establishes a sense of hopelessness and despair among the working poor, with their minds "on vacation" as they struggle just to survive. The second line introduces a cruel overseer who "cracked that whip and beat you down," evoking the history of slavery and ongoing exploitation of marginalized communities.


But despite this oppression, the singer "keeps on knocking" at the door, trying to break through to a better life. However, the repeated refrain "but I can't get in" highlights the barriers that stand in the way of achieving upward mobility and economic security.


The second verse contrasts the opulent lifestyles of the wealthy, who "sip fancy coffees" and "step over [the] body" of the less fortunate, with the struggles of the working poor. The singer bemoans having to sell their soul just to survive while the "evil genius" of the wealthy has turned them into the working poor.


The bridge urges listeners not to "sell [their] life" and to keep fighting against the forces that keep them down. The final verse reveals that the singer has moved to Stockton, likely in search of a better life, but finds themselves still facing the same injustices and struggles.


Overall, "Working Poor" is a powerful and poignant commentary on the deep-rooted class divisions and inequities that pervade contemporary society.


Line by Line Meaning

Working poor
This song is about the struggles of people who work hard but still struggle to make ends meet, also known as the working poor.


Their mind is on vacation
The working poor may feel like they are constantly working, but their minds are not in it because they are so tired and overworked.


That man he cracked that whip and beat you down
The man in charge may use abusive tactics to keep the working poor under control and fearful for their jobs.


Well I keep on knocking, I keep on knocking but I can't get in
The singer is persistently trying to make a change but he feels like he is not being heard or making any progress.


I feel like it's over
The singer has lost hope and feels like the situation for the working poor is irreversible.


Him clean my city, Me sell my soul
The working poor are often forced into jobs that are low-paying and do not provide any room for growth or meaningful change.


Him evil genius turned working people into the working poor
The person in charge is responsible for creating a system that keeps people in poverty, even if they work hard every day.


Sip fancy coffees, Step over body outside he door
The wealthy people in power often have no regard for the struggles of the working poor and continue to live their luxurious lives while ignoring the suffering outside their doors.


Him fancy condo, He she call PO PO, Me sing too loud
The wealthy people have the power to call the police on the working poor for even the smallest inconvenience, while the working poor have no voice and feel ignored.


Don't sell your life
The singer advises the working poor to not give up their entire lives to their jobs and to seek out other opportunities, even if it is difficult.


Me move to Stockton, Him fed him monster, I can't live here no more
The singer has had enough and feels like he needs to move on from this situation in order to find a better life for himself.


Sip holy water turned working people into the working poor
The people in power sometimes use religion as a tool to keep the working poor oppressed and powerless.




Contributed by Peyton A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

僕は精神

Working poor
Their mind is on vacation
That man he cracked that whip

And beat you down

Well I keep on knocking
I keep on knocking but I can't get in

I feel like it's over
Him clean my city
Me sell my soul
Him evil genius
turned working people
Into the working poor

Well I keep on knocking
I keep on knocking but I can't get in

Sip fancy coffees
Step over body
Outside he door
Him fancy condo
He she call PO PO
me sing too loud

Don't sell your life
Well I keep on knocking
I keep on knocking but I can't get in

Me move to Stockton
Him fed him monster
I can't live here no more
Sip holy water
Turned working people
Into the working poor

Well I keep on knocking
I keep on knocking but I can't get in



Brett Houston Tube

This is some amazing groove! [With a serious message]
Sadly we're all free-range tax slaves now. It doesn’t matter how much you make, whatever is left, they will take. If you make more, they just gonna take more.
"We the people" are property of the US Corporation. The birth certificate is the deed. [1871 Act]
Raised in a cage and led to beLIEve we were free. [Slavery never ended, it was only rebranded]
You can choose any job on the big plantation for which you are qualified.
You get to choose any shack on the plantation within your monthly allotment of paper "money".
You can choose your own method of transport.
You are free to do anything you like in your "free time", as long as you can obtain/afford the necessary permit, license, or fee etc.

"United we stand." [And yet we allow ourselves to be divided by weaponized propaganda.]
"Knowledge is power." [Yet we suffer in IGNORance. Because the people believe the shiny man on TV more than their own conscious.]
Because we were programmed that way, and we OBEY! ["Nothing is real unless it's on TV"]

Break free of the programming! [Invisible chains]



All comments from YouTube:

Dave G

Spent so many years as a member of the working poor, now I'm
a member of the retired poor ; ) Thankfully, I have much more time
to listen to great music.......I have a guitar, a little amp. and the music
of Fantastic Negrito.......A life well lived !

Christopher Nosrat

Is this real, god, I just discovered this amazing man, and my mind is blown, music is amazing, and the message, it "BURNS", or as we say it nowadays "BIDEN'S.

Telma F.Gonçalves

Simplesmente incrível !!!! Sou fã absoluta !

gdu99

We need a Fantastic Negrito featuring Gary Clark Jr.

View This

Can we add a dash of Carlos Santana?

RG DM

Your voice, attitude, the way you swing when you walk just hook on me.

Bismarck Rojas

Fantastic music! Man im obsessed with your art, keep it on! Greetings from Peru

Medics Madhouse Gaming

I just seen you on CBS This Morning and now I am trying to listen to everything. I really dig the blues sounds. AWESOME KEEP IP THE GREAT. I know of an artist that is certainly getting added to my playlists!

Fantastic Negrito

Thank you! Looking forward to playing in a city near you

WLOMA

Great song & great music. as always! greetings from greece....

More Comments

More Versions