The Message
Paul Nice Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under

Broken glass everywhere
People pissin' on the stairs, you know they just don't care
I can't take the smell, can't take the noise
Got no money to move out, I guess I got no choice
Rats in the front room, roaches in the back
Junkies in the alley with a baseball bat
I tried to get away but I couldn't get far
Cause a man with a tow truck repossessed my car

[Chorus]
Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge
I'm trying not to lose my head
It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under

Standin' on the front stoop hangin' out the window
Watchin' all the cars go by, roarin' as the breezes blow
Crazy lady, livin' in a bag
Eatin' outta garbage pails, used to be a fag hag
Said she'll dance the tango, skip the light fandango
A Zircon princess seemed to lost her senses
Down at the peep show watchin' all the creeps
So she can tell her stories to the girls back home
She went to the city and got so so seditty
She had to get a pimp, she couldn't make it on her own

[Chorus]

It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under

My brother's doin' bad, stole my mother's TV
Says she watches too much, it's just not healthy
All My Children in the daytime, Dallas at night
Can't even see the game or the Sugar Ray fight
The bill collectors, they ring my phone
And scare my wife when I'm not home
Got a bum education, double-digit inflation
Can't take the train to the job, there's a strike at the station
Neon King Kong standin' on my back
Can't stop to turn around, broke my sacroiliac
A mid-range migraine, cancered membrane
Sometimes I think I'm goin' insane
I swear I might hijack a plane!

[Chorus]

It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under

My son said, Daddy, I don't wanna go to school
Cause the teacher's a jerk, he must think I'm a fool
And all the kids smoke reefer, I think it'd be cheaper
If I just got a job, learned to be a street sweeper
Or dance to the beat, shuffle my feet
Wear a shirt and tie and run with the creeps
Cause it's all about money, ain't a damn thing funny
You got to have a con in this land of milk and honey
They pushed that girl in front of the train
Took her to the doctor, sewed her arm on again
Stabbed that man right in his heart
Gave him a transplant for a brand new start
I can't walk through the park cause it's crazy after dark
Keep my hand on my gun cause they got me on the run
I feel like a outlaw, broke my last glass jaw
Hear them say "You want some more?"
Livin' on a see-saw

[Chorus]

It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under

A child is born with no state of mind
Blind to the ways of mankind
God is smilin' on you but he's frownin' too
Because only God knows what you'll go through
You'll grow in the ghetto livin' second-rate
And your eyes will sing a song called deep hate
The places you play and where you stay
Looks like one great big alleyway
You'll admire all the number-book takers
Thugs, pimps and pushers and the big money-makers
Drivin' big cars, spendin' twenties and tens
And you'll wanna grow up to be just like them, huh
Smugglers, scramblers, burglars, gamblers
Pickpocket peddlers, even panhandlers
You say I'm cool, huh, I'm no fool
But then you wind up droppin' outta high school
Now you're unemployed, all non-void
Walkin' round like you're Pretty Boy Floyd
Turned stick-up kid, but look what you done did
Got sent up for a eight-year bid
Now your manhood is took and you're a Maytag
Spend the next two years as a undercover fag
Bein' used and abused to serve like hell
Til one day, you was found hung dead in the cell
It was plain to see that your life was lost
You was cold and your body swung back and forth
But now your eyes sing the sad, sad song
Of how you lived so fast and died so young so

[Chorus]





It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under

Overall Meaning

The song "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five is a vivid description of the harsh realities of life in the inner city. The lyrics describe the broken glass and human waste that litter the streets, the rats and roaches that infest homes, and the constant danger posed by drug addicts and criminals. The chorus, "Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge, I'm trying not to lose my head," captures the feeling of constantly being on the brink of losing control, struggling to stay sane and survive in an environment that seems designed to crush the spirit.


Throughout the song, the lyrics highlight the brutal effects of poverty, inequality, and social injustice. People struggle to make ends meet, relying on government assistance and living in overcrowded, decaying buildings. Educational opportunities are limited, and young people are tempted to turn to crime as a way out. Meanwhile, corrupt cops and politicians engage in shady dealings, while the poor are left to suffer the consequences.


Despite the harsh realities depicted in the song, there is also a sense of resilience and defiance. The singer refuses to be defeated by his circumstances, and his willingness to speak truth to power is a powerful act of rebellion. By articulating the struggles and injustices faced by those living in poverty, this song serves as a potent social commentary and a call to action.


Line by Line Meaning

It's like a jungle sometimes
Living in this environment is like living in a jungle, chaotic and dangerous.


It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under
Despite the harsh conditions, the singer wonders how they manage to keep going without giving up.


Broken glass everywhere
The streets are littered with broken glass.


People pissin' on the stairs, you know they just don't care
People are using the stairs as a bathroom, and there is no consideration for the people who live there.


I can't take the smell, can't take the noise
The smell and noise are unbearable for the artist to tolerate.


Got no money to move out, I guess I got no choice
The singer has no resources to leave, so they feel trapped in the situation.


Rats in the front room, roaches in the back
The home is infested with pests.


Junkies in the alley with a baseball bat
Drug users are in the alley and are potentially dangerous.


I tried to get away but I couldn't get far
The artist attempted to escape, but the circumstances prevent them from doing so.


Cause a man with a tow truck repossessed my car
The artist's car has been taken due to financial difficulties.


Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge
The singer is at their limit and may snap if pushed further.


I'm trying not to lose my head
The artist is attempting to keep their composure and remain in control.


Standin' on the front stoop hangin' out the window
The singer is standing outside their home.


Watchin' all the cars go by, roarin' as the breezes blow
The singer is observing the traffic and the wind's effect on it.


Crazy lady, livin' in a bag
A woman is living inside a bag, which is presumably some form of shelter.


Eatin' outta garbage pails, used to be a fag hag
This lady is surviving by eating food from garbage cans, and used to be a supporter of homosexual men.


Said she'll dance the tango, skip the light fandango
The lady makes claims about dancing the tango and skipping the light fandango after being asked about it.


A Zircon princess seemed to lost her senses
This woman seems to have lost touch with reality, and the phrase 'Zircon princess' implies that she is not truly royalty but believes herself to be so.


Down at the peep show watchin' all the creeps
The lady is attending a peep show and watching some questionable characters.


So she can tell her stories to the girls back home
The woman is attending the peep show and other events so she can have tales to share with her friends.


She went to the city and got so so seditty
The woman became caught up in the city life and became enamoured with it.


She had to get a pimp, she couldn't make it on her own
The woman was unable to succeed in the city without a pimp.


My brother's doin' bad, stole my mother's TV
The singer's brother is not doing well and has even stolen from their mother.


Says she watches too much, it's just not healthy
The brother takes the TV and claims that their mother watches too much TV and that it's not good for her.


Can't even see the game or the Sugar Ray fight
The singer is unable to watch important events, like a sports game or boxing match.


The bill collectors, they ring my phone
The singer is receiving calls from bill collectors due to their financial difficulties.


And scare my wife when I'm not home
The calls are causing the singer's wife distress, particularly when the singer is not present.


Got a bum education, double-digit inflation
The artist did not receive a quality education, which is now compounded by a high inflation rate.


Can't take the train to the job, there's a strike at the station
The artist is unable to use public transit due to a workers' strike.


Neon King Kong standin' on my back
A metaphor for the weight of the world on the singer's back.


Can't stop to turn around, broke my sacroiliac
The singer is unable to slow down or stop due to physical injury.


A mid-range migraine, cancered membrane
The artist is suffering from a moderate migraine and a damaged membrane.


Sometimes I think I'm goin' insane
The artist is struggling with their mental health.


I swear I might hijack a plane!
The artist is feeling desperate enough to consider committing a crime, like hijacking a plane.


My son said, Daddy, I don't wanna go to school
The singer's son does not want to attend school for an unspecified reason.


Cause the teacher's a jerk, he must think I'm a fool
The son believes the teacher is mean and may not think highly of him.


And all the kids smoke reefer, I think it'd be cheaper
The son believes it would be more cost-effective to smoke marijuana than attend school.


If I just got a job, learned to be a street sweeper
The son suggests abandoning education for a job like street sweeping.


Cause it's all about money, ain't a damn thing funny
The son believes success is only about money and finds it distressing.


You got to have a con in this land of milk and honey
The son believes that one must be a scammer or con artist to succeed in a world that claims to be plentiful and prosperous.


They pushed that girl in front of the train
Violence breaks out in the artist's environment.


Took her to the doctor, sewed her arm on again
The girl suffered an injury and required medical attention.


Stabbed that man right in his heart
A man was fatally stabbed in the singer's environment.


Gave him a transplant for a brand new start
The victim received a transplant in an attempt to save his life.


I can't walk through the park cause it's crazy after dark
The park is dangerous at night, and the artist is afraid to go through it.


Keep my hand on my gun cause they got me on the run
The artist feels the need to defend themselves with a weapon because they are being chased.


I feel like a outlaw, broke my last glass jaw
The singer feels like a criminal and has sustained an injury to the jaw.


Hear them say 'You want some more?'
The artist has been asked if they want more injury or harm.


A child is born with no state of mind
At birth, a child has no opinion or view of the world.


Blind to the ways of mankind
The child has no understanding of human customs or institutions.


God is smilin' on you but he's frownin' too
The child has been blessed but also faces challenges and hardships.


Because only God knows what you'll go through
God is the only one who knows what the child's life will hold.


You'll grow in the ghetto livin' second-rate
The artist suggests that growing up in a poor neighbourhood is a disadvantage.


And your eyes will sing a song called deep hate
The child will experience strong emotions, including hate.


The places you play and where you stay
The child's living quarters and play spaces are dirty and dangerous.


Looks like one great big alleyway
The child's surroundings resemble an alley, with no clear distinction between living and garbage areas.


You'll admire all the number-book takers
The child will look up to gamblers and other questionable figures who take number-book bets.


Thugs, pimps and pushers and the big money-makers
The artist lists several examples of people who are not positive role models.


Drivin' big cars, spendin' twenties and tens
Negative role models are often wealthy and spend their money on big cars and expensive items.


And you'll wanna grow up to be just like them, huh
The child will aspire to grow up and imitate the behaviour of these role models.


Smugglers, scramblers, burglars, gamblers
The singer lists additional criminal activities.


Pickpocket peddlers, even panhandlers
The singer lists even more unlawful activities.


You say I'm cool, huh, I'm no fool
The singer claims to be mature and unafraid of foolish behaviour.


But then you wind up droppin' outta high school
The artist suggests that dropping out of high school is foolish behaviour.


Now you're unemployed, all non-void
The artist is unemployed and lacks purpose.


Walkin' round like you're Pretty Boy Floyd
The singer feels like a criminal, with the allusion to bank robber Floyd.


Turned stick-up kid, but look what you done did
The singer has robbed someone, but now realizes it was a mistake.


Got sent up for a eight-year bid
The artist has been sentenced to eight years in prison for their crime.


Now your manhood is took and you're a Maytag
The artist has lost their confidence and has become vulnerable in prison (Maytag is a brand of washing machine).


Spend the next two years as a undercover fag
The artist has to pretend to be homosexual to survive in prison.


Bein' used and abused to serve like hell
The singer is being taken advantage of and abused by others in prison.


Til one day, you was found hung dead in the cell
The artist was eventually found dead in their cell by hanging themselves, implying that the circumstances of their life led them to this endpoint.


It was plain to see that your life was lost
The singer's life had no good end in sight, and the signs were clear to those around them.


You was cold and your body swung back and forth
The singer has died by hanging, and their lifeless body is moving back and forth.


But now your eyes sing the sad, sad song
The singer uses a metaphor to describe the lifeless eyes of the dead person.


Of how you lived so fast and died so young so
The person lived a quick and troubling life, leading them to die young.


[Chorus]
Refrain throughout the song that emphasizes the difficulty of living in a tough environment. 'Don't push me' sets the tone that the artist can only handle so much before they snap. 'It's like a jungle sometimes' is the central metaphor that describes the dangerous and chaotic situation in which the artist is living; however, they wonder how they are able to make it through.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CARL DAVIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

KIDS COOKING PARTIES

wow love it

George Chronis

Paul Nice is NICE...Hell Yeah!!!1

jogonjon

superb upload quality. + .dope tune = boomshanka !!!!!!!!

Noel Martinez

Niceee!!!

Mario Meezy

DOPE.

Jazzy Woop

I first heard this on "Journey to the centre of the beats"

Todd Lanthier

thats my boy!

5h00m5

Yes indeed !

https://www.discogs.com/Grandmaster-Flash-The-Furious-Five-The-Message-Paul-Nices-Super-Duty-Bootleg-Mash-Up/release/307710

party_barty

Where can I buy this track please? Looked everywhere... :( Cheers

Todd Lanthier

chips ahoy and coke.....you know it......

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