Riot
K.Ramp & Soundtester Lyrics
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Is getting me down
Police and gang wars
All over town
Closing down our clubs
For no good reason
Hassle us on the street
Take away our freedoms
Oh, oh, we want a riot
Oh, oh, so sick and tired
Here come the riot squad
They're closing in
Guns and riot shields
And gas grenades
They see us standing there
All in a line
Black and white unite
Confrontations high
Oh, oh, we want a riot
Oh, oh, we're sick and tired
Oh, oh, leave us alone
They have a justice bill
That's what they say
Now, they have the power now
To put us away
There were four of us
Minding our own
We're a riotous assembly
Walking down the road
Oh, oh, we want a riot
Oh, oh, so sick and tired
Oh, oh, we wanna riot
Oh, oh, leave us alone
The lyrics of K. Ramp & Soundtester's "Riot" paint a picture of inner city life filled with police brutality, gang wars, and societal oppression that seems to be too much to bear. The song's chorus--which chants "Oh, oh, we want a riot. Oh, oh, so sick and tired. Oh, oh, leave us alone,"--represents the boiling point of frustration and angst felt by the residents of the inner city. For instance, these residents' venues (clubs) are being shut down without any valid reason while we are constantly agitated and harassed while walking down the streets.
The second verse of the song provides a vivid description of an impending confrontation between the residents and the riot squad, devoid of rationale and reasoning. The police come with their guns, riot shields, and gas grenades, seemingly set to start a war with the residents. The residents--black and white alike--stand firm, confronting the situation with their united front, ready for whatever may follow. The second chorus of the song highlights this frustration and defiance felt by residents when facing issues with no apparent course of action or resolution.
The song's final verse illustrates that the powers that be have created laws to suppress the people's voices and further reiterates the struggle faced by people of the inner city daily. The verse explicitly mentions a "justice bill" that theoretically serves as a suppressive tool for the people. All in, the song contends that residents of the inner city face extreme hardships and oppression, while the people we trust to protect us are only but a part of the problem.
Line by Line Meaning
Inner City life
The lifestyle in the city is becoming uncomfortable.
Is getting me down
The current city lifestyle is having a negative impact emotionally.
Police and gang wars
There's a lot of conflict between the police and gang members.
All over town
The conflict is widespread within the city.
Closing down our clubs
The clubs are being shut down without good reason.
For no good reason
There's no legitimate justification for the club shutdowns.
Hassle us on the street
We're being harassed on the street for no reason.
Take away our freedoms
Our liberties are being taken away unjustly.
Oh, oh, we want a riot
We desire to rebel against the current injustices in our society.
Oh, oh, so sick and tired
We're fed up with the current state of affairs in our city.
Here come the riot squad
The authorities are deploying their forces to suppress any rebellious activities.
They're closing in
The authorities are nearing us.
Guns and riot shields
The authorities have access to arms and are heavily protected.
And gas grenades
Non-lethal gas is being deployed as a physical deterrent.
They see us standing there
We're being perceived as a threat to the status quo.
All in a line
We're standing together in unison.
Black and white unite
All races are coming together as one.
Confrontations high
The situation is reaching a boiling point between the two parties.
They have a justice bill
The authorities claim to have a law system in place to maintain justice.
That's what they say
The authorities only make claims without any concrete evidence.
Now, they have the power now
The authorities have too much power and little regulation on how they use it.
To put us away
The system is designed to oppress us.
There were four of us
A small number of people can make a difference.
Minding our own
We're peacefully co-existing and not causing any issues.
We're a riotous assembly
The authorities consider us as people that operate outside the status quo.
Walking down the road
We're just minding our businesses and continuing our day.
Oh, oh, leave us alone
We want to handle our affairs without any outside interference.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Benjamin Butler, Charlie Harper
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind