DISCOGRAPHY:
"Raise the Youth" CD Discography (FISTOLO, 2004)
"Ashtrays and Art" cassette (RUPTURED AMBITIONS, 1998)
"Anthems for Doomed Youth" 7" EP (CREEP, 1996)
"Crap's Greatest Hits" 5-song demo cassette (1994) OUT OF PRINT.
Compilations:
NYU Independent Music Fest CD (NYU Program Board).
Song: āElbow Problemā
Creep Records Exploitational Sampler (CREEP)
Songs: āThe Government Stole My Germs CDā and āFake Politixā
Best of the Best: A Punkrock Compilation (AWESOME DAWSON RECORDS)
Song: āThe Government Stole My Germs CDā
Defenestrator Benefit Cassette
Song: āPlastic Threatā
Related projects:
Mischief Brew, The Killer Elite
It's A Hard Knock Life
Orphans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's the hard-knock life for us
'Steada treated
We get tricked
'Steada kisses
We get kicked
It's the hard-knock life
Got no folks to speak of, so
It's the hard-knock row we how
Cotton blankets
'Steada of wool
Empty bellies
'Steada of full
It's the hard-knock life
Don't if feel like the wind is always howln'?
Don't it seem like there's never any light
Once a day, don't you wanna throw the towel in?
It's easier than puttin' up a fight
No one's there when your dreams at night get creepy
No one cares if you grow or if you shrink
No one dries when your eyes get wet an' weepy
From the cryin' you would think this place's a sink
Oh
Empty belly life
Rotten smelly life
Full of sorrow life
No tomorrow life
Santa Claus we never see
Santa Claus, what's that who's he?
No one cares for you a smidge
When you're in an orphanage
It's the hard-knock life
You'll stay up till this dump shines like the top of the Chrysler Building
Yank the whiskers from her chin
Jab her with a safety Pin
Make her drink a mickey finn
I love you, Miss Hannigan
It's the hard-knock life for us
No one cares for you a smidge
When your in an orphanage
It's the hard-knock life
It's the hard-knock life
It's the hard-knock life
The song "It's A Hard Knock Life" from the musical Annie, performed by the orphans, delves into the harsh reality of their daily lives. The repetition of "It's the hard-knock life for us" emphasizes the constant struggle and challenges they face in their circumstances. The lyrics portray a sense of abandonment and mistreatment, with the orphans being "tricked" instead of treated and "kicked" instead of shown affection with kisses. This highlights the lack of love and care in their lives, making it a hard-knock existence for them.
The comparison between "cotton blankets 'Steada of wool" and "empty bellies 'Steada of full" paints a picture of deprivation and hardship. The orphans lack basic necessities and comforts, living a life filled with struggle and scarcity. The mention of "no folks to speak of" shows their isolation and lack of family support, leaving them to navigate the challenges of life on their own. The repetition of "It's the hard-knock life" reinforces the ongoing difficulties they face without respite.
The lyrics further express the feeling of hopelessness and despair experienced by the orphans. The imagery of the wind always howling and the absence of light symbolize a bleak and dreary existence. The desire to give up and "throw the towel in" reflects the exhaustion and overwhelming burden they carry. The loneliness and vulnerability of the orphans are highlighted through the lines about no one being there for them in their moments of need and fear.
The references to Santa Claus and the longing for care and attention underscore the yearning for a sense of belonging and love. The contrast between the hard-knock life they lead and the joy and generosity associated with Santa Claus emphasizes their deprived state. The final verses depict a sense of rebellion and defiance, with the orphans determined to endure and survive despite the challenges. The lyrics evoke a mix of sorrow, resilience, and defiance in the face of adversity, portraying the harsh realities of life in an orphanage and the strength required to persevere through it all.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the hard-knock life for us
Life is tough for us
'Steada treated
Instead of being treated well
We get tricked
We are deceived
'Steada kisses
Instead of receiving affection
We get kicked
We are pushed down
Got no folks to speak of, so
We have no family to talk about
It's the hard-knock row we how
Facing hardships every day
Cotton blankets
Instead of warm wool blankets
'Steada of wool
Instead of comfort
Empty bellies
We often go hungry
'Steada of full
Instead of being satisfied
Don't if feel like the wind is always howln'?
Doesn't it feel like life is always harsh?
Don't it seem like there's never any light
There's always darkness and no hope
Once a day, don't you wanna throw the towel in?
Every day feels like giving up
It's easier than puttin' up a fight
Quitting is easier than trying
No one's there when your dreams at night get creepy
No one comforts you when you're scared
No one cares if you grow or if you shrink
No one pays attention to you
No one dries when your eyes get wet an' weepy
No one comforts you when you cry
From the cryin' you would think this place's a sink
It feels like a never-ending cycle of sadness
Empty belly life
Life of hunger
Rotten smelly life
Life filled with unpleasantness
Full of sorrow life
Life full of sadness
No tomorrow life
No hope for the future
Santa Claus we never see
We never receive gifts or joy
Santa Claus, what's that who's he?
We don't even know who Santa Claus is
No one cares for you a smidge
No one shows any concern for you
When you're in an orphanage
Especially when you're left in an orphanage
You'll stay up till this dump shines like the top of the Chrysler Building
You'll work hard until this place looks perfect
Yank the whiskers from her chin
Pulling on someone's facial hair
Jab her with a safety Pin
Poking someone with a pin
Make her drink a mickey finn
Trick someone into consuming a drugged drink
I love you, Miss Hannigan
Sarcastically showing affection for an authority figure
It's the hard-knock life for us
Life is full of struggles for us
No one cares for you a smidge
No one shows any compassion for you
When your in an orphanage
Especially when you're living in an orphanage
It's the hard-knock life
Life is harsh and difficult
It's the hard-knock life
Life is challenging and unforgiving
It's the hard-knock life
Life is full of hardships
Lyrics Ā© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jonathanromero1753
It's the hard-knock life for us!
It's the hard-knock life for us!
'Steada treated
We get tricked!
'Steada kisses
We get kicked!
It's the hard-knock life!
Got no folks to speak of, so
It's the hard-knock row we how!
Cotton blankets
'Steada wool!
Empty bellies
'Steada full!
It's the hard-knock life!
Don't it feel like the wind is always howl'n?
Don't it seem like there's never any light!
Once a day don't you wanna throw the towel in?
It's easier than puttin' up a fight
No one's there when your dreams at night get creepy!
No one cares if you grow or if you shrink!
No one dries when your eyes get red an' weepy!
From the cryin' you would think this place would sink!
Ohhhh!!!!!!!
Empty belly life!
Rotten smelly life!
Full of sorrow life!
No tomorrow life!
Santa Claus we never see
Santa Claus, what's that? Who's he?
No one cares for you a smidge
When you're in an orphanage!
It's the hard-knock life!
(Imitating Miss. Hannigan)
You'll stay up till this dump shines
Like the top of the Chrysler Building.
Yank the whiskers from her chin
Jab her with a safety pin
Make her drink a mickey finn
I love you, Miss Hannigan
It's the hard-knock life for us
It's the hard-knock life for us
No one cares for you a smidge
When you're in an orphanage
It's the hard-knock life
It's the hard-knock life
It's the hard-knock life!
@wepoppin6191
Jesus these poor orphans are great at gymnastics
@Dan-di9jd
That orphanage is piss poor and underfunded yet they got a million bucks right there if they can somehow use them as a circus act.
@angelrabishaw3107
PSSSSST š itās cause theyāre actors š donāt come at me I know you know that!
@KapatidTomas
I agree lmao š¤£š¤£š
@tundra-bun
Yet the only gymnastic move I can do is a cartwheel :[
@holacomo263
@@tundra-bun I cant even lift my foot off the ground
@enchantingkatie
You really gotta appreciate the fact that these kids actually sound like kids when they sing, as opposed to the later film adaptations where theyāre all autotuned to oblivion
@sashatiana-alize6186
Agreed
@sharpaycutie2
They think they're off beat movements are cute lol
@corriehingston6744
Agreed. Autotune (when not used properly) is ridiculous and sounds fake. This sounds like a group of children singing as children