Inner City Blues
Marvin Gaye/Musicfire.in Lyrics
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Rockets, moon shots
Spend it on the have nots
Money, we make it
'Fore we see it you take it
Oh, make you wanna holler
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
This ain't livin', this ain't livin'
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
No, no, no
Inflation no chance
To increase finance
Bills pile up sky high
Send that boy off to die
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Hang ups, let downs
Bad breaks, set backs
Natural fact is
I can't pay my taxes
Oh, make me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Yeah, it makes me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Crime is increasing
Trigger happy policing
Panic is spreading
God know where we're heading
Oh, make me wanna holler
They don't understand
Dah, dah, dah
Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Who are they to judge us
Simply cause we wear our hair long
The lyrics to Marvin Gaye's song Inner City Blues speak to the struggles of those living in poverty and facing systemic oppression. The opening lines refer to the government spending on space exploration and technology, while neglecting to provide for those who are struggling to make ends meet. The lyrics "Money, we make it, 'Fore we see it you take it" allude to the income inequality and taxation policies that disproportionately affect the lower class. The chorus "Make me wanna holler, The way they do my life" highlights the frustration and despair that comes with living in a society that perpetuates inequality.
Gaye continues to paint a bleak picture of life for the impoverished by mentioning inflation and the inability to increase finances, as bills continue to pile up. The line "Send that boy off to die" references the Vietnam War, which overwhelmingly affected young men from low-income communities who were unable to dodge the draft. The verse "Hang ups, let downs, Bad breaks, set backs" alludes to the struggles and setbacks that these communities face that only add to their financial and emotional burden. The final lines addressing hair and societal judgement criticize the superficiality of societal norms and call for compassion and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Rockets, moon shots
Referring to the government spending money on space exploration while issues in inner cities go unaddressed
Spend it on the have nots
The government spending money on programs for those in poverty
Money, we make it
People work hard to earn a living
'Fore we see it you take it
Taxes and bills take a large portion of their earnings before they even have the chance to use it
Oh, make you wanna holler
The overwhelming frustration with the situation
The way they do my life
Referring to the injustices and struggles faced in everyday life
This ain't livin', this ain't livin'
The difficult and trying circumstances lead to questioning what it means to truly live
Inflation no chance
Inflation is harming people's ability to make ends meet
To increase finance
Struggling to find ways to make more money
Bills pile up sky high
The overwhelming amount of bills and expenses that pile up
Send that boy off to die
Referring to young men being drafted to fight in the Vietnam War
Hang ups, let downs
The constant disappointments, setbacks, and obstacles faced
Bad breaks, set backs
Referring to the difficulties faced in life due to external factors beyond one's control
Natural fact is
The unfortunate reality and truth is
I can't pay my taxes
Struggling to pay taxes, which contribute to the common good of society
Oh, make me wanna holler
Expressing the frustration and struggle of navigating life's obstacles
And throw up both my hands
Feeling helpless in the face of overwhelming obstacles
Crime is increasing
The increase in crime rates in urban areas
Trigger happy policing
Referring to police who are quick to use violence
Panic is spreading
Fear and anxiety is becoming pervasive in society
God know where we're heading
Uncertainty and worry about the future
They don't understand
The feeling of being unseen and unheard by those in positions of power and authority
Mother, mother
Calling to the maternal instinct of universal care and concern for one another
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Society as a whole often misunderstands or doesn't fully comprehend the realities and struggles of those in the inner city
Who are they to judge us
Questioning the authority and right of others to pass judgment and make assessments about people who have different life experiences than they do
Simply cause we wear our hair long
Referencing the Afro hair style, which was a symbol of black pride and resistance to oppressive beauty standards
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Marvin Gaye, James Nyx
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
charlysstore
sometimes i wonder. Great Man !!!
brandonedgerarities
Thanks. I aint no marvin for sure