Inner City Blues
Marvin Gaye (live) 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
The way they do my life
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
Yea, 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 of this song explore the struggles faced by the African American community in urban settings during the 70s, specifically the affect of the Vietnam war, inflation, and poverty. Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues" opens with the "rockets, moon shots" representing the advancements and achievements of the time, but highlights that the country was not taking care of its own people, particularly those living in inner cities. Gaye explains that the government was spending money on space exploration rather than supporting poor neighborhoods. He questions why he and other poor Americans make money only for it to be taken away and used for things they don't benefit from. This creates a sense of helplessness, and Gaye describes feeling trapped due to this lack of financial mobility.
Gaye further explores the struggles of the African American community, narrating how they are unable to pay taxes and then have to send their children to Vietnam without any support or means of survival. The lyrics continue with struggles such as the increase in crime and police brutality. Gaye reiterates the feeling of being unheard and misunderstood by the authorities, as they don't realize the reality of the situation of people living in the inner city.
Overall, the song's lyrics paint a picture of frustration and desperation about the struggle for economic and social justice. These struggles exist not only for African Americans but for all people living in poverty in urban settings, which society often neglects. The song is a call for action, for people to understand the struggles of the poor and the marginalized, to acknowledge their existence, and work towards a more just and equitable society.
Line by Line Meaning
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Introduction to the song
Rockets, moon shots
Refers to the space race and government's spending on space exploration
Spend it on the have nots
Belief that government spending should be directed towards helping the poor and needy
Money, we make it
People work hard to make money
Fore we see it you take it
Money is taken away through taxes and other means before people even have a chance to use it
Oh, make you wanna holler
Describes the feeling of frustration and anger towards the system
The way they do my life
The unfair treatment of individuals by the system
This ain't livin', this ain't livin'
The current situation is not a fulfilling or enjoyable way of life
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
Reaffirms that the current situation is not living
No, no, no
Repetition for emphasis
Inflation no chance
No opportunities to deal with inflation
To increase finance
No options to improve financial standing
Bills pile up sky high
Unable to pay bills, which accumulate quickly
Send that boy off to die
Reference to the Vietnam War and how young men were being sent to fight and die
Make me wanna holler
Reaffirms the feeling of frustration and anger towards the system
The way they do my life
The unfair treatment of individuals by the system
Dah, dah, dah
Interlude
Hang ups, let downs
Various obstacles and disappointments in life
Bad breaks, set backs
Further references to misfortune in life
Natural fact is
The truth of the matter
I can't pay my taxes
Unable to pay the taxes owed
Oh, make me wanna holler
Reaffirms the feeling of frustration and anger towards the system
And throw up both my hands
Expression of complete resignation and defeat
Yea, it makes me wanna holler
Reaffirms the feeling of frustration and anger towards the system
Crime is increasing
Crime rates are going up
Trigger happy policing
Police officers using excessive force
Panic is spreading
Fear and panic is becoming more common
God know where we're heading
Uncertainty about the future
Oh, make me wanna holler
Reaffirms the feeling of frustration and anger towards the system
They don't understand
The government and those in power do not understand the struggles of the everyday person
Dah, dah, dah
Outro
Mother, mother
Shift in focus to addressing a specific person - a mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Reference to the general public's perception of the younger generation
Who are they to judge us
Questioning why others feel entitled to pass judgement
Simply cause we wear our hair long
People being judged based on their appearance
Lyrics ยฉ EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES NYX, MARVIN GAYE, MARVIN P GAYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tulayamalavenapi4028
Translation
Government men are always like carnivorous demons called Rฤkแนฃasas [man-eaters]. Sometimes these government men turn against the conditioned soul and take away all his accumulated wealth. Being bereft of his lifeโs reserved wealth, the conditioned soul loses all enthusiasm. Indeed, it is as though he loses his life.
Purport
The word rฤja-kula-rakแนฃasฤ is very significant. ลrฤซmad-Bhฤgavatam was compiled about five thousand years ago, yet government men are referred to as Rฤkแนฃasas, or carnivorous demons. If government men are opposed to a person, that person will be bereft of all his riches, which he has accumulated with great care over a long period of time. Actually no one wants to pay income taxes โ even government men themselves try to avoid these taxes โ but at unfavorable times income taxes are exacted forcibly, and the taxpayers become very morose.
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Free reading here's the verse:
https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/5/14/16/
But the solutions are ALSO found. Seek ye the kingdom of Kแนแนฃแนa..
@MisterJackson-so9lo
53 years later and this song is tragically still relevant๐ข๐ข๐ข๐ข๐ข๐ข
@wandacain1310
Still affects me emotionally ๐ข
@MisterJackson-so9lo
@@user-sc1hu6or1b SUPERB ๐ฅ๐ฅ FULL POINT ๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พ OBSERVATION
@KwaneleCornelius-qx6uq
๐ข
@bgbstrm2352
RIP Marvin Gaye - the greatest of all time!!! I am white, live in Sweden, 68 now, but remember how I as a teenager really enjoyed this song - and other soul music - and still do!! This album is the greatest ever, unfortunately the lyrics are still relevant today... ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ต
@missionscrapprwill7530
Hello To Sweden
@treacherousjslither6920
Unfortunately. Will we ever get it right? Humanity is pathetic smh
@rubyjones7441
One of the greatest songs ever written!!!
@sybilwindham604
Along with Stevie Wonder's Living For The City.
@sandraatkins2539
Ms. Jones you are so correct. Blessings