The Message
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under
It's like a jungle sometimes
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
Junkies in the alley with a baseball bat
I tried to get away but I couldn't get far
'Cause a man with a tow truck repossessed my car

Don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge
I'm trying not to lose my head, ha-ha-ha-ha

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 siditty
She had to get a pimp, she couldn't make it on her own

Don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge
I'm trying not to lose my head, ha-ha-ha-ha

It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under
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

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
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

Don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge
I'm trying not to lose my head, say what?

It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under
It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under
It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under
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 don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge
I'm trying not to lose my head, ha-ha-ha-ha

It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under, ha-ha-ha-ha




It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under, ha-ha-ha-ha

Overall Meaning

"The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five is a powerful, evocative song that paints a stark picture of urban life in the Bronx in the early 1980s. The lyrics, delivered in a rapid-fire, staccato rap style, describe the harsh realities of poverty, crime, and social decay that characterized the lives of many young people in the city at that time. The song opens with the memorable refrain, "It's like a jungle sometimes / It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under," which sets the tone for what follows. The vivid descriptions of broken glass, the smell of urine, rats, and junkies with baseball bats paint a bleak picture of life in the projects. The lyrics go on to describe a range of other unsettling experiences, including a woman eating out of garbage pails, a man losing his car to a tow truck, and a child who doesn't want to go to school because he thinks his teacher is a jerk. The overall message of the song is that life in the city can be tough, and that people need to fight hard to overcome the obstacles they face.


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 am amazed that I can manage to stay afloat and not succumb to the difficulties


Broken glass everywhere
There is destruction and danger present in my surroundings


People pissin' on the stairs, you know they just don't care
Individuals show no regard for others and behave inconsiderately


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


Got no money to move out, I guess I got no choice
Due to financial constraints, I am unable to relocate and have limited options


Rats in the front room, roaches in the back
My living conditions are infested with rodents and insects


Junkies in the alley with a baseball bat
There are drug addicts in the alleyway, armed for self-defense


I tried to get away but I couldn't get far
Despite my attempts to escape, I did not succeed in distancing myself from the hardships


'Cause a man with a tow truck repossessed my car
My vehicle was taken away by a tow truck driver as I could not make the necessary payments


Don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge
I am on the verge of a breaking point, so please do not test my patience


I'm trying not to lose my head, ha-ha-ha-ha
I am making an effort to maintain my composure, despite the challenges


Standin' on the front stoop, hangin' out the window
I am positioned on the front steps, observing the world outside through the window


Watchin' all the cars go by, roarin' as the breezes blow
I observe the passing cars and listen to their engines as the wind blows


Crazy lady, livin' in a bag
There is a mentally unstable woman who resides in a bag, likely homeless


Eatin' outta garbage pails, used to be a fag hag
She scavenges food from trash bins and was formerly associated with gay men


Said she'll dance the tango, skip the light fandango
She claims she can dance the tango and swiftly evade difficult situations


A Zircon princess seemed to lost her senses
Someone who was once glamorous and fake now appears to have lost touch with reality


Down at the peep show watchin' all the creeps
She spends time at a peep show, observing unsavory individuals


So she can tell her stories to the girls back home
She wants to share her experiences with her friends who are not present


She went to the city and got so-so siditty
After moving to the city, she became somewhat pretentious and snobbish


She had to get a pimp, she couldn't make it on her own
Unable to support herself, she resorted to having a pimp to survive


My brother's doin' bad, stole my mother's TV
My brother is in a difficult situation and resorted to stealing our mother's television


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


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


Can't even see the game or the Sugar Ray fight
We are unable to watch sports events or boxing matches on television


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 cause distress to my wife when I am not present


Got a bum education, double-digit inflation
I received a subpar education and now have to deal with high inflation rates


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
I feel overwhelmed by the pressure and responsibilities weighing on me


Can't stop to turn around, broke my sacroiliac
I am unable to take a break or rest due to a painful injury


A mid-range migraine, cancered membrane
I am experiencing a moderate migraine and dealing with a damaged lining


Sometimes I think I'm goin' insane
At times, I genuinely believe I am losing my sanity


I swear I might hijack a plane
I am so overwhelmed that I jokingly entertain the idea of committing a serious crime


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'
He believes the teacher treats him disrespectfully and underestimates his intelligence


And all the kids smoke reefer, I think it'd be cheaper
Many of his peers engage in recreational drug use, and he believes it would be less expensive to do the same


If I just got a job, learned to be a street sweeper
He suggests that he could work as a street sweeper to save money instead of going to school


Or dance to the beat, shuffle my feet
He considers pursuing a career in dancing instead of traditional education


Wear a shirt and tie and run with the creeps
He imagines wearing formal attire and associating with unsavory individuals


'Cause it's all about money, ain't a damn thing funny
He concludes that money is the most important aspect of life and nothing else matters


You got to have a con in this land of milk and honey
In order to succeed in this opportunistic society, one must have a strategy or con


They pushed that girl in front of the train
Someone deliberately caused a woman to be hit by a train


Took her to the doctor, sewed her arm on again
Medical professionals were able to reattach her severed arm


Stabbed that man right in his heart
A man was viciously stabbed in the chest


Gave him a transplant for a brand new start
He received a life-saving organ transplant, giving him a fresh beginning


I can't walk through the park 'cause it's crazy after dark
It is dangerous and unpredictable to walk through the park during nighttime


Keep my hand on my gun 'cause they got me on the run
I feel the need to carry a firearm for self-defense as I am constantly being pursued


I feel like a outlaw, broke my last glass jaw
I am an outlaw and my last bit of resilience has been shattered


Hear them say, 'You want some more?'
I hear my adversaries taunting me, asking if I want further confrontation


Livin' on a see-saw
My life is in a constant state of imbalance and instability


A child is born with no state of mind
When a child is born, they are free from societal influences and prejudices


Blind to the ways of mankind
Infants are unaware of the complexities and flaws of humanity


God is smilin' on you but he's frownin' too
Although God may show favor, they also disapprove of certain actions


Because only God knows what you'll go through
No one can predict the exact struggles and experiences an individual will face


You'll grow in the ghetto livin' second-rate
Coming from a disadvantaged neighborhood, one is subjected to a lower standard of living


And your eyes will sing a song called deep hate
Living in such circumstances may cultivate a strong and intense resentment


The places you play and where you stay
The locations where you spend time and reside


Looks like one great big alleyway
The environment resembles one extensive and impoverished alley


You'll admire all the number-book takers
You will respect those who participate in illegal gambling


Thugs, pimps and pushers and the big money-makers
You will have admiration for criminals, exploiters, and those who thrive financially


Drivin' big cars, spendin' twenties and tens
They flaunt their wealth by driving luxurious vehicles and spending large sums of money


And you'll wanna grow up to be just like them
You will aspire to emulate their lifestyle and achievements


Huh, smugglers, scramblers, burglars, gamblers
People engage in various illicit activities such as smuggling, scrambling, burglary, and gambling


Pickpocket peddlers, even panhandlers
There are individuals involved in petty theft, street vending, and begging


You say I'm cool, huh, I'm no fool
Others may perceive me as confident, but I am not easily deceived


But then you wind up droppin' outta high school
Despite the initial impression, you eventually abandon your education


Now you're unemployed, all non-void
Consequently, you find yourself jobless and without purpose


Walkin' round like you're Pretty Boy Floyd
In an attempt to appear tough or important, you adopt an arrogant demeanor


Turned stick-up kid, but look what you done did
You transitioned into a criminal who robs others, but the consequences are severe


Got sent up for a eight-year bid
You receive a lengthy prison sentence of eight years


Now your manhood is took and you're a Maytag
In prison, you have your dignity stripped away and become vulnerable


Spend the next two years as a undercover fag
To survive in jail, you are forced to act as if you are homosexual


Bein' used and abused to serve like hell
You become a victim of exploitation and mistreatment while serving your sentence


'Til one day, you was found hung dead in the cell
Eventually, you are discovered dead by hanging in your prison cell


It was plain to see that your life was lost
The tragic outcome undeniably demonstrates the loss of your life


You was cold and your body swung back and forth
Your lifeless body hung motionless and swung with the prison cell's movements


But now your eyes sing the sad, sad song
Your life's story, filled with sorrow and regret, is evident in your eyes


Of how you lived so fast and died so young
You lived a reckless and brief life, which ultimately led to your untimely demise


So don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge
Do not provoke me further as I am already on the brink of instability


I'm trying not to lose my head, ha-ha-ha-ha
I am making an effort to remain composed, despite the challenges and temptations




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Clifton Nathaniel Chase, Edward G. Fletcher, Melvin Glover, Sylvia Robinson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@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..  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 comment  let's make it togetherr



All comments from YouTube:

@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?

395 More Replies...

@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

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