Cross The Tracks
Maceo And The Macks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gather up the boys to come and get back
We stand all together against the opposed
We'll die for our brethren that we have chose
On the wrong side of the tracks
On the wrong side of the tracks
Escalation, war in the streets
Catch one sucker and he gets beat
Soft motherfuckers will soon meet their end
On the wrong side of the tracks
On the wrong side of the tracks
And when you're in fuckin' Brooklyn
You best watch your back
[Incomprehensible]
Took you damn long
To hear me sing this song
'Cause I'm the motherfucker from the wrong
(Side of the tracks)
Yo, hey, I'm from around the way
You'd better not stay on the wrong
(Side of the tracks)
Ducking from the 5-0
Didn't know where to go
Never should've stepped on the wrong
(Side of the tracks)
Hey, yo, 'cause I'm good to go
I gotta get back from the wrong
(Side of the tracks)
Across the tracks
No one takes your back
Across the tracks
Across the tracks
No one takes your back
Across the tracks
The boys in the gang
Wanna see me hang
Well, I had my bells rang on the wrong
(Side of the tracks)
Strapped, a broken pact
Caught in a trap on the wrong
(Side of the tracks)
Wrong or right, I had to fight
I ran for daylight to the right
(Side of the tracks)
A lesson to learn
When the tables are turned
You might get burned on the wrong
(Side of the tracks)
Across the tracks
No one takes your back
Across the tracks
Across the tracks
No one takes your back
Across the tracks
Across the tracks
No one takes your back
Across the tracks
Across the tracks
No one takes your back
Across the tracks
Across the tracks
Motherfucker
The lyrics of Maceo And The Macks's song "Cross the Tracks" depict life on the wrong side of the tracks, a term that originated in the early 20th century to denote areas where the poor and marginalized lived in cities. The singer of the song is a fish out of water who has strayed into dangerous territory and needs to gather his boys to make it back to safety. The lyrics also talk about the sense of brotherhood and loyalty among those on the wrong side of the tracks and their willingness to fight and die for each other. The escalation of violence, seen in the line "escalation, war in the streets," shows that life is tough and violent, and being caught by the authorities or rival gangs can lead to beatings or worse. The chorus repeats "across the tracks, no one takes your back" to remind the listener that life is unforgiving in these parts and that one has to always be vigilant to make it through.
The song's lyrics also touch on the themes of lessons learned and the need for adaptation to survive in a tough environment. The line "a lesson to learn when the tables are turned, you might get burned on the wrong (side of the tracks)" suggests that things can change quickly and that one has to be adaptable to stay ahead. The use of the term "soft motherfuckers" suggests that toughness and strength are prized in these settings, and any lack of grit can lead to one's downfall. The mention of Brooklyn, a borough in New York City, indicates that the song is likely set in an urban environment, and the use of street slang and profanity is in keeping with the song's gritty subject matter.
Line by Line Meaning
You're a fish out of water on the wrong side of the tracks
You are out of place and at a disadvantage on the side of town that is considered less desirable and possibly dangerous
Gather up the boys to come and get back
Assemble a group of supporters to retaliate against those who have wronged us
We stand all together against the opposed
We unite as a team to confront and challenge our enemies who resist our ideals
We'll die for our brethren that we have chose
We are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the members of our chosen group, like family or close friends
Escalation, war in the streets
Tensions are rising and violence is erupting in the neighborhood
Catch one sucker and he gets beat
Those who are caught and deemed responsible for wronging us will face physical repercussions
What you see is what you get
There are no secrets or hidden agendas; our actions and motives are clear and transparent
Soft motherfuckers will soon meet their end
Those who are weak or cowardly will eventually face a harsh reality check or punishment
And when you're in fuckin' Brooklyn, you best watch your back
The dangers and risks of living in the rougher parts of Brooklyn demand constant vigilance and caution
[Incomprehensible], took you damn long, to hear me sing this song, 'cause I'm the motherfucker from the wrong
It's taken too long for people to pay attention to my message because I come from the less privileged and often ignored side of town
Yo, hey, I'm from around the way, you'd better not stay on the wrong
Hey, listen up, I'm from this neighborhood and I know the risks of being on the wrong side of town
Ducking from the 5-0, didn't know where to go, never should've stepped on the wrong
Avoiding the police and feeling lost and overwhelmed because of being in the dangerous area that one should never have walked into
Hey, yo, 'cause I'm good to go, I gotta get back from the wrong
I'm ready and able to leave this dangerous situation and return to safety
No one takes your back
You cannot rely on anyone for support or protection, you're on your own
The boys in the gang, wanna see me hang, well, I had my bells rang on the wrong
The gang members want to harm me, and I have already suffered major injuries on this unfavorable side of town
Strapped, a broken pact, caught in a trap on the wrong
Carrying a weapon due to a promise being broken and feeling trapped in a dangerous situation on the wrong side of town
Wrong or right, I had to fight, I ran for daylight to the right
Regardless of whether my actions were justified or not, I had to defend myself and escape to safety on the right side of town
A lesson to learn, when the tables are turned, you might get burned on the wrong
An important realization to be made is that when roles are reversed, and one is on the less privileged side of town, they can be negatively impacted or possibly harmed
Motherfucker
An exclamation of defiance or anger
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES DEARNESS HOGARTH, KATIE VICTORIA TUNSTALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Big Mouth Prick
Let's not stand on ceremony, mate - let's start the show.
I'm standing in for Jerry, he's ill.
Do you know who this Bookies' belongs to?
Well done, Carl. Now it's time for us to do our part! Try to stay close! OK, team, I've gone over the layout to this place so I know it back to front. Everybody follow me!
IT WON'T OPEN BECAUSE IT'S A SECURITY DOOR!
Damn! the devious bastards have changed the layout!
Reggie Hobbs
This is what I love about vinyl. There are so many unknown hits out there. Not everyone has the same exact collection. I didn't even know Maceo has a group. Thanks for schoolin me!! Props on the collection!!
Fender Polsk
Legendary sound.GTA San Andreas in heart 💓
Guybrush Threepwood
Such great memories brother!
Michael Dembinski
For some reason I've had this tune going round my head all night long; as soon as I woke up I hit YouTube for a full-on blast of this masterpiece - thanks for the upload!
RJJNY
So good. Brings back a lot of fractured but happy memories of dancing in London in the 1980s; warehouse parties and particularly a club called Sacrosanct at Shaftesburys. This & The Jackson Sisters - I Believe in Miracles which was issued on the same label around the same time.
Felicity Catchpole
I use to dance to this at Zenons and The Wag club
Julia Oko
I believe in Miracles, top track
Davund Elm
A real gem. Thanks for uploading!
Big Island
Everytime I get out of my car and walk with my mate this plays in my head when I cross the street 🤣😂🤣😂
Waltuh
All bets are off.