Inner City Blues
Ronnie Laws & Sounds Of Blackness 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
Ronnie Laws's song "Inner City Blues" is a social and political commentary on the struggles and problems facing the black community in urban areas. The song starts with a repetitive melody of "dah dah dahs" in the background which serves as the foundation for the rest of the song. The lyrics criticize the government and society for their shortcomings in providing equal opportunities to black people. The first verse accuses society of wasting money on moon shots and rockets instead of helping those in need.
The next verse deals with financial struggles and bills piling up, leading to the inability to pay taxes. The chorus "make me wanna holler" represents the frustration and anger of being unable to break free from poverty and injustice. The final verse addresses the social issues and violence prevalent in urban communities. The song claims that society fails to understand their struggles, and that judgment is based on appearance rather than the content of character.
Line by Line Meaning
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Non-lyrical introduction
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Same as above
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Same as above
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Same as above
Dah, dah, dah
Same as above
Rockets, moon shots
Spending huge amounts of money to explore space
Spend it on the have nots
Rather than helping the less fortunate people, we spend our money on space exploration
Money, we make it
We earn money
Fore we see it you take it
The government takes our money in taxes before we even get to use it
Oh, make you wanna holler
It's frustrating
The way they do my life
Refers to the government's actions
This ain't livin', this ain't livin'
Our current situation is not a life worth living
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
Same as above
No, no, no
Same as above
Inflation no chance
Inflation makes it impossible for us to improve our financial situation
To increase finance
To improve our financial situation
Bills pile up sky high
Our bills are piling up and becoming unmanageable
Send that boy off to die
Sending young men off to war
Hang ups, let downs
Frustrations and disappointments
Bad breaks, set backs
Misfortunes and setbacks
Natural fact is
The reality is
I can't pay my taxes
Referring to being financially strained
Oh, make me wanna holler
It's frustrating
And throw up both my hands
Expression of defeat
Yea, it makes me wanna holler
I am very frustrated
Crime is increasing
The crime rate is going up
Trigger happy policing
Refers to the police being too quick to use their weapons
Panic is spreading
People are becoming more afraid and anxious
God know where we're heading
We don't know where our society is heading
They don't understand
The government doesn't understand how to help us
Mother, mother
Calling out to mother for help
Everybody thinks we're wrong
People are judging us unfairly
Who are they to judge us
Challenging those who are judging us
Simply cause we wear our hair long
We are being judged solely based on our appearance
Dah, dah, dah
Same as above
Dah, dah, dah
Same as above
Dah, dah, dah
Same as above
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Marvin Gaye, James Nyx
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind