Soulsville
Isaac Hayes Lyrics

Black man, born free,
Despite being born free, a black man still faces invisible chains and discrimination.

At least that's the way it's supposed to be;
Society often claims to value freedom and equality, but that is not always reflected in reality for black people.

The chains that bind him are hard to see,
The institutional, social, and economic barriers that prevent black people from achieving true freedom are not always obvious or visible.

Unless you take this walk with me;
It takes empathy and understanding from outsiders to truly see the struggles that black people face.

The place where he lives, God, he gives them names
Black neighborhoods are often given negative names that perpetuate stereotypes and prejudice.

The 'Hood, 'The Projects, 'The Ghetto; they are one and the same;
Though different in name, these neighborhoods all face similar struggles related to poverty, violence, and lack of opportunity.

And I call it 'Soulsville' ah, yeah.
Despite its struggles, this community has a rich soul and spirit that is often overlooked by outsiders.

Any kind of job is hard to find,
Employment opportunities are scarce in these neighborhoods, perpetuating a cycle of poverty.

That means an increase in the welfare line;
Many people in these neighborhoods need government assistance to make ends meet due to the lack of employment opportunities.

The crime rate is rising too, but
Due to the systemic issues they face, many people in Soulsville turn to crime in order to survive or provide for their families.

If you are hungry, what would you do?
When people are desperate, they may resort to extreme measures just to survive.

The rent is two months past due, in a building that's falling apart,
Housing insecurity is a major issue in these neighborhoods, leaving many families without a safe and stable place to call home.

Little boy needs a new pair of shoes, and this is only a part of Soulsville
Basic needs like clothing and footwear are often unattainable for those living in poverty in these neighborhoods.

Some of the brothers' got plenty of cash, tricks on the corner is going to see to that,
While some resort to crime out of necessity, others may profit from the exploitation of their own community members.

Some like to smoke and some like to blow, some are even strung out on a $50 Jones
Drug addiction and substance abuse are also prevalent in these neighborhoods, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and poor health.

Trying to ditch reality, by getting so, high,
Many people turn to drugs as a form of escape from the harsh realities of their lives.

Only to find out, that you can never reach the sky,
Despite their attempts to escape, drugs will never provide a true escape from the systemic issues that are oppressing this community.

Because your roots are in Soulsville, oh, yes they are.
One's roots and identity are deeply tied to their community and experiences, even if those experiences are difficult and oppressive.

Every Sunday morning, I can hear the church sisters sing 'Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Despite their struggles, the community relies on faith and spirituality to provide hope and solace.

Trusting the Lord to make a way, oh yeah;
Many believe that God will eventually provide a way out of the struggles faced by the community.

I hope that He hears their prayers, because deep in their souls they believe,
Prayer is one of the only forms of agency and hope available to many people in Soulsville, and they cling to it with deep conviction and belief.

Someday He'll put an end to all this misery that we have in, Soulsville
There is a deep hope and belief that the systemic struggles and injustices faced by this community will eventually be lifted, though it seems distant and unlikely.

All yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
A powerful and soulful expression of the struggles and persistence of the community.

Hm
A final wordless note that speaks volumes about the deep emotions and difficulties faced by this community.