The Message
Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five Lyrics

It's like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under
Life can be chaotic and overwhelming, and I often question how I manage to survive without succumbing to the difficulties.

Broken glass everywhere
There is destruction and disorder all around.

People pissin' on the stairs, you know they just don't care
Individuals show no concern for others' well-being or their surroundings.

I can't take the smell, can't take the noise
The unpleasant odors and loud noises are unbearable for me.

Got no money to move out, I guess I got no choice
I am trapped in this situation due to my financial constraints, leaving me with no other options.

Rats in the front room, roaches in the back
My living conditions are infested with rats and roaches, making it even more challenging to cope.

Junkies in the alley with a baseball bat
There are drug addicts lurking in the alley, armed and ready to inflict harm.

I tried to get away but I couldn't get far
Despite my attempts, I was unable to distance myself from the struggles and dangers.

'Cause a man with a tow truck repossessed my car
My car was taken away by a tow truck driver, adding to my hardships and limitations.

Don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge
I am on the brink of breaking, so please do not push me any further.

I'm trying not to lose my head, ha-ha
I am making an effort to stay composed and not lose my sanity, despite the challenging circumstances.

Standin' on the front stoop hangin' out the window
I find myself standing on the front steps, observing the world from my window.

Watchin' all the cars go by, roarin' as the breezes blow
I watch the passing cars as they create noise while the wind blows.

Crazy lady, livin' in a bag
There is a mentally unstable woman who resides in a makeshift shelter made of bags.

Eatin' outta garbage pails, used to be a fag hag
She now scavenges for food from trash cans, but she used to be associated with gay men as their close friend.

Said she'll dance the tango, skip the light fandango
She claims she can perform a lively dance, skipping around with grace.

A Zircon princess seemed to lost her senses
This woman, referred to as a 'Zircon princess,' appears to have lost touch with reality and her sensibilities.

Down at the peep show watchin' all the creeps
She spends her time at a peep show, observing and interacting with unsavory individuals.

So she can tell her stories to the girls back home
She wants to have stories to share with her friends in her hometown.

She went to the city and got so-so seditty
Her move to the city has made her somewhat arrogant and snobbish.

She had to get a pimp, she couldn't make it on her own
Unable to survive independently, she resorts to having a pimp to provide for her needs.

My brother's doin' bad, stole my mother's TV
My brother is involved in illegal activities and stole our mother's television.

Says she watches too much, it's just not healthy
He believes our mother's excessive television consumption is detrimental to her well-being.

All My Children in the daytime, Dallas at night
Our mother indulges in soap operas during the day and watches the show Dallas at night.

Can't even see the game or the Sugar Ray fight
We are unable to afford proper entertainment such as sports events or boxing matches.

The bill collectors, they ring my phone
I constantly receive calls from debt collectors demanding payment.

And scare my wife when I'm not home
These calls frighten my wife when I am not present.

Got a bum education, double-digit inflation
I received an inadequate education, coupled with a high inflation rate.

Can't take the train to the job, there's a strike at the station
Due to a strike at the train station, I am unable to use public transportation to commute to work.

Neon King Kong standin' on my back
Metaphorically, I feel burdened by the presence of a large, imposing figure.

Can't stop to turn around, broke my sacroiliac
I am unable to halt or change direction due to a painful injury to my sacroiliac joint.

A mid-range migraine, cancered membrane
I suffer from regular migraines and have developed a malignant condition affecting my body's protective layers.

Sometimes I think I'm goin' insane
At times, I fear I am losing my sanity.

I swear I might hijack a plane
I am so desperate and overwhelmed that I consider resorting to extreme measures like hijacking an airplane.

My son said, Daddy, I don't wanna go to school
My son expressed his reluctance to attend school.

'Cause the teacher's a jerk, he must think I'm a fool
My son believes his teacher treats him poorly and sees him as foolish.

And all the kids smoke reefer, I think it'd be cheaper
He observes his peers using marijuana and believes it would be more affordable than continuing his education.

If I just got a job, learned to be a street sweeper
He contemplates working as a street sweeper instead of pursuing formal education.

Or dance to the beat, shuffle my feet
Another potential path he considers is becoming a dancer, moving to the rhythm and shuffling his feet.

Wear a shirt and tie and run with the creeps
He envisions himself conforming to societal standards by wearing formal attire and associating with questionable individuals.

'Cause it's all about money, ain't a damn thing funny
He recognizes that in this society, financial success is valued above all else, and there is nothing amusing about that fact.

You got to have a con in this land of milk and honey
To succeed in this society with its promised prosperity, one must have deceitful tricks up their sleeve.

They pushed that girl in front of the train
A group of individuals intentionally caused a girl to be pushed in front of a moving train.

Took her to the doctor, sewed her arm on again
After the incident, she was rushed to the hospital where her amputated arm was reattached by doctors.

Stabbed that man right in his heart
Someone violently stabbed a man directly in his heart.

Gave him a transplant for a brand new start
In an effort to save his life, the man underwent a heart transplant, providing him with a fresh beginning.

I can't walk through the park 'cause it's crazy after dark
Due to the volatile and dangerous nature of the park at night, I am too fearful to walk through it.

Keep my hand on my gun 'cause they got me on the run
To protect myself from those pursuing me, I keep my hand on my firearm at all times.

I feel like a outlaw, broke my last glass jaw
I am filled with a sense of being an outlaw and an outsider, as I have reached my breaking point.

Hear them say 'you want some more?'
I hear people taunting me, asking if I desire further hardships and challenges.

Livin' on a see-saw
My life feels like a constant struggle, going up and down like a see-saw.

A child is born with no state of mind
A newborn enters the world without preconceived notions or judgments.

Blind to the ways of mankind
This child is unaware of the complexities and injustices present in human society.

God is smilin' on you but he's frownin' too
From a spiritual perspective, while God may have good intentions, he also recognizes the difficulties this child will face.

Because only God knows what you'll go through
Only God possesses the knowledge of the challenges and hardships this child will endure.

You'll grow in the ghetto livin' second-rate
The child will come of age in a disadvantaged neighborhood, experiencing a lower standard of living.

And your eyes will sing a song called deep hate
The child's eyes will reflect a deep-seated resentment and animosity towards the world.

The places you play and where you stay
The locations where you spend leisure time and reside will lack safety and comfort.

Looks like one great big alleyway
The environment closely resembles a vast, interconnected network of dark and dangerous alleys.

You'll admire all the number-book takers
The child will develop an admiration for individuals involved in illicit gambling and betting.

Thugs, pimps and pushers and the big money-makers
The child will idolize criminals, exploiters, and those who earn significant wealth through immoral means.

Drivin' big cars, spendin' twenties and tens
These influential figures flaunt their material wealth, driving luxurious cars and lavishly spending cash.

And you'll wanna grow up to be just like them
The child will aspire to emulate and become like these popular figures, glamorizing their lifestyles.

Huh, smugglers, scramblers, burglars, gamblers
The child will gravitate towards engaging in smuggling, scrambling, burglary, and gambling.

Pickpocket peddlers, even panhandlers
The child will even be drawn to activities such as pickpocketing and begging.

You say I'm cool, huh, I'm no fool
The child expresses a delusion of self-assurance and asserts their lack of foolishness.

But then you wind up droppin' outta high school
Despite this confidence, the child eventually abandons their education and leaves high school prematurely.

Now you're unemployed, all non-void
As a result, the child becomes jobless, devoid of purpose and direction.

Walkin' round like you're Pretty Boy Floyd
Seeking a false sense of significance, the child wanders aimlessly, attempting to embody the reputation of the infamous criminal 'Pretty Boy Floyd.'

Turned stick-up kid, but look what you done did
The child transforms into a perpetrator of armed robberies, but this action only leads to negative consequences.

Got sent up for a eight-year bid
As a result of criminal activity, the child receives a prison sentence lasting eight years.

Now your manhood is took and you're a Maytag
Imprisonment results in the loss of masculinity and freedom, reducing the individual to a vulnerable state.

Spend the next two years as a undercover fag
During the subsequent two years in prison, the person is forced to engage in homosexual activities discreetly for survival.

Bein' used and abused to serve like hell
They are exploited and mistreated, serving others as if they were in a living hell.

Till one day, you was found hung dead in the cell
Eventually, the person is discovered hanging dead in their prison cell.

It was plain to see that your life was lost
It is evident that this individual's life was tragically cut short.

You was cold and your body swung back and forth
The lifeless body hangs limply, swinging back and forth in a grim display.

But now your eyes sing the sad, sad song
In death, the person's eyes reflect a mournful and sorrowful tune.

Of how you lived so fast and died so young
The song reveals the tragic tale of a life lived recklessly and prematurely ended.

So don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge
Given the weight of my circumstances, I am on the verge of losing control, so please do not test my resolve.

I'm trying not to lose my head, ha-ha
I am exerting effort to maintain my composure and not succumb to the pressures and hardships, but it is a challenging task.

It's like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under
Life can often feel like a chaotic and harsh jungle, and it amazes me how I manage to survive and avoid succumbing to its challenges.