Colors
Ice‐T Lyrics

Colors, colors, colors,
The repetitivenes of the phrase echoes the constant nature of gang-related violence and the choice of colors that define certain gangs.

I am a nightmare walking, psychopath talking
The singer is an intimidating presence, feared by others around him for his violent behavior.

King of my jungle just a gangster stalking
The singer is the most powerful of his gang, scouting and hunting for potential victims.

Living life like a firecracker quick is my fuse
The artist leads a risky and unpredictable life, where one misstep could lead to his destruction.

Then dead as a deathpack the colors I choose
The artist associates his identity with the gang and its colors to the point where his death will be remembered by the colors he represented.

Red or Blue, Cuz or Blood, it just don't matter
Despite the gang affiliations, violence is still perpetuated even when there is no apparent cause.

Sucker die for your life when my shotgun scatters
The singer is willing to take the lives of those who are not part of his gang or who threaten his sovereignty.

We gangs of L.A. will never die, just multiply
The gangs operating within Los Angeles are resilient and show no signs of diminishing.

You don't know me, fool
The artist is unsympathetic to those who do not understand the lifestyle of the gangs or the violence they enact.

You disown me, cool
The artist is accustomed to being mistrusted, and doesn't need to rely on others to validate his existence.

I don't need your assistance, social persistence
The singer ignores societal pressures to conform to accepted behavior, and does not need help from others.

Any problem I got I just put my fist in
Violence is the preferred method of conflict resolution for the artist.

My life is violent but violent is life
The singer accepts violence as a natural part of life.

Peace is a dream, reality is a knife
The reality for those who live within the singer's reality is that violence is a constant, and peace is a mere fantasy.

My colors, my honor, my colors, my all
The singer values his gang and his personal identification with that gang as more important than anything else in his life.

With my colors upon me one soldier stands tall
The artist believes his affiliation with his gang makes him strong, powerful and untouchable.

Tell me what have you left me, what have I got
The artist is questioning what his society has given him that has led him to a life of violence and gang affiliation.

Last night in cold blood a young brother got shot
The singer laments the death of a fellow gang member, but accepts his violent death as an inevitable consequence of living in that world.

My home got jacked, my mother's on crack
The singer's family has been negatively affected by drugs and the gang lifestyle.

My sister can't work 'cause her arms show tracks
The artist's siblings struggle with addiction and cannot function well within society.

Madness, insanity, live in profanity
The artist recognizes that their world is chaotic and filled with immoral behaviors.

Then some punk claimin' they're understandin' me
The artist is critical of outsiders who claim to empathize or understand the artist's life and his gang affiliation.

Give me a break, what world do you live in
The singer is dismissive of the idea that those outside his world will ever truly understand the realities of gang violence.

Death is my sect, guess my religion
The violence the artist enacts is so ingrained in his life that it has become the very foundation for his existence.

My pants are saggin', braided hair
The singer outwardly displays the stereotypical appearance of a gang member.

Suckers stare but I don't care
The singer is unaffected by societal judgment and ridicule.

My game ain't knowledge my game's fear
The power of the singer comes from the fear he instills in others.

I've no remorse so squares beware
The artist feels no guilt over his violent actions, and warns those outside the gang to keep their guard up.

But my true mission is just revenge
The artist's ultimate purpose for being part of the gang and perpetuating violence is to seek revenge against the perceived wrongs committed against him.

You ain't in my set, you ain't my friend
The singer is completely loyal to his gang and cannot trust those who are not part of it.

Wear the wrong color your life could end
The singer warns that wearing the colors of rival gangs could result in death.

Homocide's my favorite venge
The artist's preferred method of revenge and perpetuating the gang identity is homicide.

So I'll just walk like a giant police defiant
The artist sees himself as a huge presence that is difficult to stop or control, and resists authority.

You'll say to stop but I'll say that I can't
The artist is unwilling to listen to societal expectations to curb his violent behavior.

My gangs my family its all that I have
The singer's gang and his fellow members are the only family and support he recognizes.

I'm a star, on the walls is my autograph
The artist leaves his mark, his gang's signature, on walls and territory as a symbol of their power.

You don't like it, so you know where you can go
The singer is unsympathetic to those who do not approve of the gang lifestyle or perpetuated violence.

'Cause the streets are my stage and terror's my show
The singer embraces the persona he has created for himself within the gang as an opportunity to impose fear on others.

Psychoanalyze tried diagnose me why
The singer is skeptical of psychological attempts to explain his violent behavior.

It was a your brother the brutally died
The artist points to an outside victim as proof that the artist's behavior and gang activity is not the root of all violence.

But it was mine, so let me define
Despite the outside factors, the artist takes ownership of his specific violent actions associated with his gang affiliation.

My territory don't cross the line
The singer sees control of his territory as a vital component of his gang identity and reputation.

Don't try to act crazy
The singer is wary of those who try to imitate his behavior or act out in a way that doesn't align with gang mindset.

'Cause that shit don't phase me
The artist is unaffected by those who do not act within the codes of the gang.

If you ran like a punk
Fleeing is seen as a sign of cowardice within the artist's gang culture.

It wouldn't amaze me
The artist is not surprised by those who try to escape his violent behavior and acknowledges that it is a natural response.

'Cause my colors death
The singer identifies with his gang affiliation so deeply that death is seen as a necessary component of life within the gang.

Though we all want peace
Gang members desire peace, but it is not achievable within the current societal structure that places them at the bottom of the power structure.

But our war won't end,
The war and violence associated with gang activity will not come to an end without changes to society.

Til all wars cease
The singer envisions a world where all violence has been eliminated, making gang affiliation and the codes associated with them unnecessary.