The Message
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five Lyrics

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