Baltimore
Nina Simone Lyrics
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On a marble stair
Tryin' to find the ocean
Lookin' everywhere
Hard times in the city
In a hard town by the sea
Ain't nowhere to run to
Hooker on the corner
Waiting for a train
Drunk lying on the sidewalk
Sleeping in the rain
And the people hide their faces
And they hide their eyes
'Cause the city's dyin'
And they don't know why
Oh, Baltimore
Ain't it hard just to live?
Oh, Baltimore
Ain't it hard just to live?
Just to live
Get my sister Sandy
And my little brother Ray
Buy a big old wagon
To haul us all away
Live out in the country
Where the mountain's high
Never gonna come back here
'Til the day I die
Oh, Baltimore
Ain't it hard just to live?
Oh, Baltimore
Ain't it hard just to live?
Just to live
Nina Simone's "Baltimore" is a compelling and emotional commentary on the deteriorating urban landscape of the city of Baltimore. In the opening verse, Simone uses the image of a "beat up little seagull" trying to find the ocean on a marble stair to create a vivid picture of the struggle to find purpose and direction amidst the harshness and uncertainty of daily life. The theme of struggle and desperation in the city is continued throughout the song, with references to poverty, addiction, and hopelessness. The lyrics speak to the larger societal issues that impact urban areas, with the image of a "hooker on the corner" and a "drunk lying on the sidewalk" underscoring the widespread suffering and despair that too often goes unseen and disregarded.
The final verse offers a glimmer of hope as the singer talks about leaving the city with her family to "live out in the country where the mountain's high." The desire to leave the urban landscape - and the troubles it holds - behind is palpable, and speaks to the longing of so many who feel trapped and marginalized by the hard realities of urban life.
Simone's raw and powerful voice, paired with the stark and haunting lyrics, create a sense of urgency and poignancy that speak to the enduring challenges of poverty, insecurity, and inequality in modern society. "Baltimore" is a stirring anthem that invites reflection, compassion, and hope for change.
Line by Line Meaning
Beat up little seagull
On a marble stair
Tryin' to find the ocean
Lookin' everywhere
A seagull is trying to find its way to the ocean and is struggling while climbing a staircase. It is indicative of the difficulties and struggles that people in Baltimore face in their daily lives.
Hard times in the city
In a hard town by the sea
Ain't nowhere to run to
There ain't nothin' here for free
Baltimore is a city by the sea, and people face difficult times there. There are no easy solutions, and running away isn't a viable option. Every opportunity, including the basic necessities of life, come at a cost.
Hooker on the corner
Waiting for a train
Drunk lying on the sidewalk
Sleeping in the rain
People in Baltimore are struggling with poverty and substance abuse, and it's evident from the sight of a Hooker waiting for a train on the street corner, drunk people sprawled across the sidewalks, and those who have no place to seek shelter, sleeping in the rain.
And the people hide their faces
And they hide their eyes
'Cause the city's dyin'
And they don't know why
People in Baltimore are ashamed of their city for declining, and they don't know how to fix it, leading to desperation and sorrow.
Oh, Baltimore
Ain't it hard just to live?
Oh, Baltimore
Ain't it hard just to live?
Just to live
The difficulties of living in Baltimore are immense, and it can be challenging just to survive. This line emphasizes the challenges faced by people in the city.
Get my sister Sandy
And my little brother Ray
Buy a big old wagon
To haul us all away
The person in the song is planning to leave Baltimore with their siblings and start fresh somewhere else far from the city's struggles and difficulties.
Live out in the country
Where the mountain's high
Never gonna come back here
'Til the day I die
The person in the song wants to live far away from Baltimore in the countryside, near tall mountains, and never return to the city again.
Oh, Baltimore
Ain't it hard just to live?
Oh, Baltimore
Ain't it hard just to live?
Just to live
The difficulties of living in Baltimore are immense, and it can be challenging just to survive. This line emphasizes the challenges faced by people in the city.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Randy Newman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Referred by Smol 😂..
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@natesamedia4.02
Chillers Standup
@UpJumpsDaParty
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