The Message
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five feat. Melle Mel Lyrics
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It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under
Broken glass everywhere
People pissin' on the stairs, you know they just don't care
I can't take the smell, can't take the noise
Got no money to move out, I guess I got no choice
Rats in the front room, roaches in the back
I tried to get away but I couldn't get far
Cause a man with a tow truck repossessed my car
[Chorus]
Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge
I'm trying not to lose my head
It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under
Standin' on the front stoop hangin' out the window
Watchin' all the cars go by, roarin' as the breezes blow
Crazy lady, livin' in a bag
Eatin' outta garbage pails, used to be a fag hag
Said she'll dance the tango, skip the light fandango
A Zircon princess seemed to lost her senses
Down at the peep show watchin' all the creeps
So she can tell her stories to the girls back home
She went to the city and got so so seditty
She had to get a pimp, she couldn't make it on her own
[Chorus]
It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under
My brother's doin' bad, stole my mother's TV
Says she watches too much, it's just not healthy
All My Children in the daytime, Dallas at night
Can't even see the game or the Sugar Ray fight
The bill collectors, they ring my phone
And scare my wife when I'm not home
Got a bum education, double-digit inflation
Can't take the train to the job, there's a strike at the station
Neon King Kong standin' on my back
Can't stop to turn around, broke my sacroiliac
A mid-range migraine, cancered membrane
Sometimes I think I'm goin' insane
I swear I might hijack a plane!
[Chorus]
It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under
My son said, Daddy, I don't wanna go to school
Cause the teacher's a jerk, he must think I'm a fool
And all the kids smoke reefer, I think it'd be cheaper
If I just got a job, learned to be a street sweeper
Or dance to the beat, shuffle my feet
Wear a shirt and tie and run with the creeps
Cause it's all about money, ain't a damn thing funny
You got to have a con in this land of milk and honey
They pushed that girl in front of the train
Took her to the doctor, sewed her arm on again
Stabbed that man right in his heart
Gave him a transplant for a brand new start
I can't walk through the park cause it's crazy after dark
Keep my hand on my gun cause they got me on the run
I feel like a outlaw, broke my last glass jaw
Hear them say "You want some more?"
Livin' on a see-saw
[Chorus]
It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under
A child is born with no state of mind
Blind to the ways of mankind
God is smilin' on you but he's frownin' too
Because only God knows what you'll go through
You'll grow in the ghetto livin' second-rate
And your eyes will sing a song called deep hate
The places you play and where you stay
Looks like one great big alleyway
You'll admire all the number-book takers
Thugs, pimps and pushers and the big money-makers
Drivin' big cars, spendin' twenties and tens
And you'll wanna grow up to be just like them, huh
Smugglers, scramblers, burglars, gamblers
Pickpocket peddlers, even panhandlers
You say I'm cool, huh, I'm no fool
But then you wind up droppin' outta high school
Now you're unemployed, all non-void
Walkin' round like you're Pretty Boy Floyd
Turned stick-up kid, but look what you done did
Got sent up for a eight-year bid
Now your manhood is took and you're a Maytag
Spend the next two years as a undercover fag
Bein' used and abused to serve like hell
Til one day, you was found hung dead in the cell
It was plain to see that your life was lost
You was cold and your body swung back and forth
But now your eyes sing the sad, sad song
Of how you lived so fast and died so young so
[Chorus]
It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under
In Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Fiveās 1982 single āThe Message,ā the groupās lyrics focus on the harsh realities of life in the inner city. The song highlights the struggles people face living in poverty, through a series of vivid, often stark vignettes. The opening lines, āItās like a jungle sometimes/It makes me wonder how I keep from goinā under,ā define the overall tone of the song, which is one of desperation and hopelessness.
The scenes described in the lyrics include ābroken glass everywhereā and āpeople pissinā on the stairs.ā Though such imagery is visceral, it is unfortunately all too familiar to those who have lived in poverty-stricken neighborhoods. The song also describes run-ins with criminals like junkies and muggers as well as the daily struggles of surviving with limited means. The chorus provides a powerful refrain, with Flash rapping, āDonāt push me ācause Iām close to the edge/Iām tryinā not to lose my head.ā
āThe Messageā is more than a song, it's an anthem that, even after all these years, speaks to the struggles of communities living on the edges of society. The song was a groundbreaking hit in the early days of hip hop and the first song of its kind to openly address the harsh realities of urban life. It was also one of the first rap songs to achieve mainstream success, reaching number four on the R&B charts, and has been sampled and covered by countless artists over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
It's like a jungle sometimes
Life is chaotic and unpredictable
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under
I'm barely managing to keep my head above water
Broken glass everywhere
The environment is dangerous and damaged
People pissin' on the stairs, you know they just don't care
The community is apathetic and uncivilized
I can't take the smell, can't take the noise
The conditions are unbearable
Got no money to move out, I guess I got no choice
I'm trapped in my circumstances due to lack of resources
Rats in the front room, roaches in the back
The infestation is everywhere
Junkies in the alley with a baseball bat
Drug abuse and violence are prevalent
I tried to get away but I couldn't get far
I attempted to leave but was unsuccessful
Cause a man with a tow truck repossessed my car
My vehicle was seized by a creditor
Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge
I'm at the brink of a breakdown
I'm trying not to lose my head
I'm striving to maintain my composure
Standin' on the front stoop hangin' out the window
I'm observing the outside world from my home
Watchin' all the cars go by, roarin' as the breezes blow
The noise and activity outside contrasts with my situation
Crazy lady, livin' in a bag
A mentally ill woman living on the streets
Eatin' outta garbage pails, used to be a fag hag
She scavenges for food and used to associate with gay men
Said she'll dance the tango, skip the light fandango
She speaks incoherently and delusionally
A Zircon princess seemed to lost her senses
An unwell woman with delusions of grandeur
Down at the peep show watchin' all the creeps
Frequenting a strip club and observing unsavory characters
So she can tell her stories to the girls back home
To entertain others with tales of her unconventional life
She went to the city and got so so seditty
She became pretentious and affected after moving to the city
She had to get a pimp, she couldn't make it on her own
She resorted to prostitution due to financial hardship
My brother's doin' bad, stole my mother's TV
My sibling has resorted to theft to support their lifestyle
Says she watches too much, it's just not healthy
My mother's television watching is excessive and detrimental
All My Children in the daytime, Dallas at night
She watches soap operas during the day and dramatic shows at night
Can't even see the game or the Sugar Ray fight
She's not interested in sports programming
The bill collectors, they ring my phone
I'm being harassed for payment by creditors
And scare my wife when I'm not home
My spouse is intimidated by these calls in my absence
Got a bum education, double-digit inflation
My schooling was inadequate, and the economy is suffering with high inflation
Can't take the train to the job, there's a strike at the station
Public transportation is inaccessible due to labor disputes
Neon King Kong standin' on my back
The pressure of society weighs me down
Can't stop to turn around, broke my sacroiliac
I can't pause and rest, and my back is injured
A mid-range migraine, cancered membrane
I'm experiencing painful physical symptoms
Sometimes I think I'm goin' insane
I feel like I'm losing my mind
I swear I might hijack a plane!
I'm so desperate and unstable, I may consider an extreme act
My son said, Daddy, I don't wanna go to school
My child expresses reluctance to attend classes
Cause the teacher's a jerk, he must think I'm a fool
The educator is unpleasant and appears to have a negative attitude towards my child
And all the kids smoke reefer, I think it'd be cheaper
Peers are using drugs, and my child is considering an alternative path
If I just got a job, learned to be a street sweeper
A menial job may be a better option
Or dance to the beat, shuffle my feet
Entertainment careers may be viable
Wear a shirt and tie and run with the creeps
Conform to societal norms and associate with unsavory characters
Cause it's all about money, ain't a damn thing funny
Success is measured by material wealth
You got to have a con in this land of milk and honey
Deception and fraud can lead to financial success
They pushed that girl in front of the train
A violent and traumatizing incident occurred
Took her to the doctor, sewed her arm on again
Medical attention is necessary after the attack
Stabbed that man right in his heart
Another act of violence has occurred
Gave him a transplant for a brand new start
Modern medicine provides a second chance
I can't walk through the park cause it's crazy after dark
Public parks are dangerous in the evening
Keep my hand on my gun cause they got me on the run
I'm fearful and armed due to threats to my physical safety
I feel like a outlaw, broke my last glass jaw
I'm anti-social and have a damaged reputation
Hear them say "You want some more?"
I'm taunted and provoked
Livin' on a see-saw
Life is a constant struggle
A child is born with no state of mind
Babies are born without preconceived notions
Blind to the ways of mankind
They are innocent and unaware of societal constructs
God is smilin' on you but he's frownin' too
A religious perspective acknowledges both blessings and challenges
Because only God knows what you'll go through
The future is unknown and beyond human control
You'll grow in the ghetto livin' second-rate
Upbringing in impoverished areas can lead to limited opportunities
And your eyes will sing a song called deep hate
This environment can foster resentment and anger
The places you play and where you stay
Limited resources and options dictate recreation and housing
Looks like one great big alleyway
The appearance of the neighborhood is dilapidated and depressing
You'll admire all the number-book takers
Illicit gambling operators will be respected and emulated
Thugs, pimps and pushers and the big money-makers
Criminal elements and entrepreneurs that profit from them are glorified
Drivin' big cars, spendin' twenties and tens
Luxury symbols signify success and prestige
And you'll wanna grow up to be just like them, huh
The cycle of idolizing and imitating negative role models will continue
Smugglers, scramblers, burglars, gamblers
Illegal activities and trade will be present in the community
Pickpocket peddlers, even panhandlers
Petty crime and poverty are unavoidable
You say I'm cool, huh, I'm no fool
I reject your flattering but misguided designation
But then you wind up droppin' outta high school
Your potential won't be fully realized through education
Now you're unemployed, all non-void
You're out of work and without purpose
Walkin' round like you're Pretty Boy Floyd
You attempt to mask feelings of insecurity and inadequacy
Turned stick-up kid, but look what you done did
You turned to crime and have numerous criminal offenses
Got sent up for a eight-year bid
You've been sentenced to prison for eight years
Now your manhood is took and you're a Maytag
Your loss of freedom and personal autonomy has emasculated you
Spend the next two years as a undercover fag
You're subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation while incarcerated
Bein' used and abused to serve like hell
You're subjected to indignities and trauma during this time
Til one day, you was found hung dead in the cell
You committed suicide as a result of these circumstances
It was plain to see that your life was lost
It's clear that your downward spiral resulted in your untimely death
You were cold and your body swung back and forth
Your lifeless body was suspended and exposed
But now your eyes sing the sad, sad song
Your perspective is one of sadness and despair
Of how you lived so fast and died so young so
Your short and tumultuous existence ended quickly and painfully
Lyrics Ā© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CARL DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@briannk3720
LIFE ISNT EASY .... I don't want to force anything on yall but man I've had so many problems and the only true way to come out of them victorious is thru the Lord God Almighty... I know society makes everyone think being religious is for deluded people but please open your eyes it's not..Ā I plead to yall just say a prayer to God commit all your worries fears, regrets and deepest problems into his hands.. read the bible and keep praying to him in Jesus Name .. I promise you your life will change for the better I promise you
I was pondering on suicide, I wanted to run away from home but I prayed to the Lord God and all of a sudden ..things started moving forward in my life.. I've done so many evil things in my past.. things that i think any other person would kill me for if they were God but God kept me alive and well
I dont want to be seen as the deluded guy in the comment section but I'm literally pouring my heart out
I thought my sins were too bad and that I will never succeed in my dreams.. but I forgot that in John 3:16 it says "For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life"
Believe that Jesus died on the cross for all of our sins to be forgiven and to give us eternal life in heaven
You may think I'm crazy but I'm begging just try this read the bible pray and watch yourself rise to heights you never expected
Dont fall into the tricks of the world I'm begging
I apologise for this being too long
Imma try and send this out to loads of comments sections.. I hope this touched your soul.. if it did please like the message and commentĀ let's make it togetherr
@Slaker02320
The most important song in the history of rap music.
@duchessofessex2550
Yup
@teeakerestegian5364
@@duchessofessex2550 a
@emperorza5777
No cap
@petebooya7298
Absolutely! No better rap record than this! These things are happening today and this song is 38 years old!
@justincastillogayray
and video when you watch the ending. How much have things changed?
@ferchocomando5429
"a child is born with no state of mind , blind to the ways of mankind "one of the best bars on earth
@antonioeackles5713
yes
@BladeRunner-td8be
Tabula Rasa is a Latin Phrase meaning "Clean Slate" And yes, that was a great, perhaps even best verse in that song.
@justwavs7554
@@BladeRunner-td8be damn I had to look that up...hahaha