The Patrol Car
Monty O'Blivion Lyrics

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On an empty street in a Missouri town
Where all the cops are white
A black and white car crept along
Looking for a fight
Two unarmed boys were walking home
Unaware of being hunted
The patrol car turned the corner
They were unexpectedly confronted

The door flew open, an arm reached out
Grabbed the kid by the throat
It was a white St. Louis cop
He was a black kid, just old enough to vote
They tried to get away
But the shots instantly began
One boy hid behind a car
The other held out his hands
I'm sure you know what happened next
It happens all the time
No expensive trials, no jury
Just execution for no crime
And another mother cried
And another mother cried
Keep the kids inside
Lock the doors and hide
The police are out tonight
The boy lie face down in the street
And he never had a gun
They left him there for all to see
The community was stunned
The police said it was justified
As the crowds began to form
That day the town of Ferguson
Stood against the uniform, they sang
And another mother cried
And another mother cried
They cooked up the usual story
Said he went for the cop's gun
Then they open-fired on the crowd
When they wouldn't turn and run
They sent in tanks and SWAT
And smashed news cameras at the scene
They attacked our people
For a cop who killed an innocent teen
And we sing
Is it any wonder why

We never cry
When a police dies

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Monty O'Blivion's song "The Patrol Car" highlight the racial profiling and police brutality that persists in society, specifically focusing on an incident in a Missouri town. The opening lines describe the setting as an empty street in a town where all the cops are white. This immediately establishes the racial tension that exists within the community.

The song then delves into the encounter between the police and two unarmed black boys who are walking home, unaware that they are being hunted. The patrol car turns the corner, unexpectedly confronting them. The violence escalates swiftly, with one of the white St. Louis cops grabbing one of the black boys by the throat. This act of aggression is already a representation of the inequality and abuse of power that frequently occurs.

The boys attempt to escape, but they are met with gunfire. One of the boys hides behind a car, while the other raises his hands in surrender. The lyrics imply that the events that take place next are tragically predictable, as they "happen all the time." The song paints a grim picture of a justice system that fails to protect innocent lives, as there are no trials or juries. Instead, there is simply an execution for no apparent crime.

The impact of these events is devastating, evident in the repeated lines "And another mother cried." The lyrics urge listeners to keep their kids inside, to lock the doors and hide, as the police are out tonight. This speaks to the fear and lack of trust that exists within communities, particularly communities of color, when it comes to law enforcement.

The song then shifts focus to the aftermath of the incident in the town of Ferguson. The boy who was shot lies face down in the street, another symbol of a life lost in a senseless act of violence. The community is stunned, and they come together, standing against the uniform and singing in resistance.

The lyrics further criticize the actions and narrative of the police, who claim that the killing was justified because the boy allegedly reached for the cop's gun. In response to protests, the police respond with force, firing upon the crowd and attacking people. The references to tanks, SWAT teams, and the destruction of news cameras highlight the excessive and oppressive tactics used against the community.

Ultimately, the lyrics touch on the diminishing empathy towards the deaths of police officers when innocent lives are continuously lost at the hands of law enforcement. The line "Is it any wonder why we never cry when a police dies?" reveals the frustration and disillusionment felt by marginalized communities, who have been consistently let down by a system that fails to hold those in power accountable.

In summary, "The Patrol Car" by Monty O'Blivion sheds light on the pervasive issue of racial profiling, police brutality, and the flawed justice system through storytelling and vivid imagery. It calls for awareness, empathy, and a collective effort to address the deeply rooted systemic issues that perpetuate such tragedies.

Line by Line Meaning

On an empty street in a Missouri town
In a deserted area of a town in Missouri

Where all the cops are white
In a place where all the police officers are white

A black and white car crept along
A police car, painted in black and white, moved slowly

Looking for a fight
Seeking confrontation or conflict

Two unarmed boys were walking home
Two boys who were not carrying any weapons were heading towards their homes

Unaware of being hunted
Unknowingly being pursued or targeted

The patrol car turned the corner
The police car took a turn

They were unexpectedly confronted
They were surprisingly faced with a situation

The door flew open, an arm reached out
The car door suddenly opened, and an arm emerged

Grabbed the kid by the throat
The officer seized the boy's neck

It was a white St. Louis cop
The police officer was a white individual from St. Louis

He was a black kid, just old enough to vote
The boy was a black teenager who had recently reached the eligible voting age

They tried to get away
They attempted to escape or flee

But the shots instantly began
However, the immediate discharge of firearms occurred

One boy hid behind a car
One of the boys sought cover behind a vehicle

The other held out his hands
The other boy extended his hands, possibly in surrender

I'm sure you know what happened next
You are likely aware of the subsequent events

It happens all the time
Such incidents occur frequently

No expensive trials, no jury
There are no costly court proceedings or a jury involved

Just execution for no crime
Merely an act of killing without any committed offense

And another mother cried
Another mother expressed her sorrow through tears

Keep the kids inside
Protect the children by keeping them indoors

Lock the doors and hide
Securely close and barricade the doors, concealing oneself

The police are out tonight
The police officers are patrolling the area during this evening

The boy lie face down in the street
The boy's body lay with his face towards the ground on the road

And he never had a gun
And he was never in possession of a firearm

They left him there for all to see
They abandoned him in that location, exposed to everyone's view

The community was stunned
The local community was shocked or astonished

The police said it was justified
The police claimed it was an act that had valid reasoning

As the crowds began to form
As gatherings of people started to assemble

That day the town of Ferguson
On that particular day, in the town of Ferguson

Stood against the uniform, they sang
The residents of Ferguson resisted the authority represented by police officers, expressing their defiance through song

They cooked up the usual story
They fabricated the typical narrative

Said he went for the cop's gun
Claimed that he tried to reach for the officer's firearm

Then they open-fired on the crowd
Subsequently, they started shooting at the gathering of people

When they wouldn't turn and run
When the crowd did not disperse and flee

They sent in tanks and SWAT
Military-style vehicles and a special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team were deployed

And smashed news cameras at the scene
Additionally, they destroyed cameras belonging to news organizations present at the location

They attacked our people
They assaulted our citizens

For a cop who killed an innocent teen
Due to an officer who had fatally shot an innocent teenager

And we sing
And we vocalize

Is it any wonder why
Is it not surprising why

We never cry
We do not shed tears

When a police dies
When an officer is killed