One More Time
Fiery Furnaces Lyrics
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There's no need to, brothers everybody can see
That its one more time in the ghetto you know
One more time if you please now
One more time to the dying man
They say one more time if you please
The old lady kicks karate
The little baby he knows kung fu
He tries it on those he meets
Cos its a one more time!
Cos it's a one more time in the ghetto
One more time if you please
One more time for the dying man
One more time to be free
You don't need no silicone to calculate poverty
Watch when Watts town burns again
The bus goes to Montgomery
Cos it's a one more time in the ghetto
One more time this year
One more time for the dying man
One more time if you please
One more time
The lyrics of Fiery Furnaces' "One More Time" are a commentary on the cycle of poverty and oppression that continues to affect marginalized communities. The song begins with the line "Must I get a witness for all this misery?" suggesting a plea for acknowledgement of the struggles faced by those living in impoverished neighborhoods. Yet, the following line declares that "there's no need to, brothers everybody can see," indicating that the effects of poverty and violence are evident to all, regardless of whether they choose to acknowledge it or not.
The repetition of the refrain "one more time" emphasizes the cyclical nature of poverty and violence - despite the efforts of activists and community organizers, these issues persist and continue to affect generations of individuals. The lyrics depict the unlikely protagonists of an "old lady" and "little baby" resorting to martial arts as a form of self-defense, highlighting the desperation that grips many communities who feel powerless in the face of systemic oppression.
The reference to "Watts town" and "Montgomery" places the song in a historical context, alluding to the 1965 Watts riots - a series of violent protests that erupted in the predominantly black neighborhood of Watts, Los Angeles, following systemic racial discrimination and police brutality. The bus to Montgomery refers to the historic Montgomery bus boycotts, a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights movement.
Overall, "One More Time" is a powerful commentary on the insidious nature of cyclical poverty and marginalization, highlighting the ways in which systemic oppression affects individuals and communities.
Line by Line Meaning
Must I get a witness? for all this misery
Do I really need someone to confirm the suffering we're experiencing?
There's no need to, brothers everybody can see
We don't need anyone else to see it, everyone already knows.
That its one more time in the ghetto you know
Once again, we're facing tough situations in the poor neighborhoods.
One more time if you please now
It's happening again and we're asking for it to stop or at least be acknowledged.
One more time to the dying man
People who are sick and suffering are facing these problems yet again.
They say one more time if you please
We're pleading for the issues to be recognized and addressed this time.
The old lady kicks karate
Even elderly people are expected to be tough enough to defend themselves in this rough neighborhood.
For just a little walk down the street
Simply going for a walk in these conditions can be dangerous and prompt the need for self-defense.
The little baby he knows kung fu
Even young children need to be aware of how to protect themselves because of the reality of the situation.
He tries it on those he meets
The child is putting what they've learned to the test whenever they encounter someone they deem as a potential threat.
Cos its a one more time!
This kind of situation keeps occurring over and over again as a cycle.
Cos it's a one more time in the ghetto
The cycle of hardship is happening again in the impoverished area.
One more time if you please
We're once again pleading for awareness of the struggles faced here.
One more time for the dying man
Those who are suffering the most are once again facing the same hardships.
One more time to be free
All people deserve to live without these kinds of struggles but it keeps happening again.
You don't need no silicone to calculate poverty
You don't need a fancy way to calculate when people are living in poverty.
Watch when Watts town burns again
The neighborhood of Watts is going to face destruction yet again.
The bus goes to Montgomery
While things continue to happen in this neighborhood, people are leaving to go to other places that may have more opportunities.
Cos it's a one more time in the ghetto
The cycle is happening again in the impoverished area.
One more time this year
It's only been a year since we last faced these struggles and it's happening again.
One more time for the dying man
Those who are at their most vulnerable are facing these same difficulties once again.
One more time if you please
We're asking for recognition and acknowledgement of the issues so that they can be addressed and stopped from happening again.
One more time
This cycle of suffering and hardship keeps happening again and again.
Contributed by Joshua H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Matias Covachevich
Buenisimo