Inner City Blues
Midnight Blue Lyrics
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Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Rockets, moon shots
Spend it on the have nots
Money, we make it
Oh, make you wanna holler
The way they do my life
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
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
Dah, dah, dah
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 "Inner City Blues" by Midnight Blue lament the societal and economic injustices faced by African Americans in America in the 1970s. The song begins with a series of nonsensical "dah dah dahs," which are followed by the lines "rockets, moon shots, spend it on the have nots, money, we make it, fore we see it you take it." These lines are a commentary on the government's prioritization of space exploration over helping those in need, and the way in which money is taken from people before they have a chance to use it to better their own lives. The chorus, "make me wanna holler, the way they do my life," serves as a powerful refrain throughout the song, expressing the singer's feelings of desperation and frustration in response to the injustices portrayed.
Later in the song, the lyrics reference inflation and the inability to pay taxes, further reinforcing the idea that people are being taken advantage of by the government. The second half of the song touches on issues of crime, policing, and societal panic. The lines "trigger happy policing, panic is spreading, God know(s) where we're heading," highlight the dangers and uncertainties facing many Americans at the time. In the final lines of the song, the singer addresses societal judgment, specifically the way in which those with unconventional appearances are looked down upon. Referring to "everybody" who thinks "we're wrong," the singer asks "who are they to judge us simply cause we wear our hair long?"
Overall, "Inner City Blues" is a powerful commentary on the social and economic struggles of African Americans in America in the 1970s. The lyrics highlight issues of poverty, inequality, and injustice, and evoke feelings of desperation and disillusionment in response to these problems.
Line by Line Meaning
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Repetitive sound effect used for emphasis
Rockets, moon shots
The country is spending excessive amounts of money on space exploration instead of addressing issues on earth
Spend it on the have nots
The money should be spent on helping those who are struggling instead of on unnecessary projects
Money, we make it
People are earning money through hard work
Fore we see it you take it
Taxes and other expenses often take a large portion of the money earned before it can be fully enjoyed
Oh, make you wanna holler
Evokes feelings of anger and frustration
The way they do my life
The unfair and difficult circumstances of life
This ain't livin', this ain't livin'
The hardships of life make it difficult to truly live
Inflation no chance
Inflation is making it difficult for people to improve their financial situations
To increase finance
Earning enough money to improve one's financial situation is challenging
Bills pile up sky high
Expenses are accumulating quickly and becoming overwhelming
Send that boy off to die
War is sending young people to an early death
Hang ups, let downs
Disappointments and setbacks
Bad breaks, set backs
Unfortunate life events that hinder progress
Natural fact is
An undeniable truth
I can't pay my taxes
The financial burden is becoming too much to bear
And throw up both my hands
Feeling overwhelmed and giving up
Crime is increasing
The rise in crime is a cause for concern
Trigger happy policing
Police are too quick to use force in certain situations
Panic is spreading
Fear is causing chaos and disorder
God know where we're heading
Uncertainty about the future
They don't understand
Others cannot comprehend the difficult circumstances of life
Mother, mother
The beginning of a new conversation
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Others constantly judge and criticize
Who are they to judge us
Challenging the authority of those who judge and criticize
Simply cause we wear our hair long
Disagreeing with superficial judgments based on appearance
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES NYX, MARVIN GAYE, MARVIN P GAYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind