Sun City
S.U.M.P Lyrics
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Praying hands hold me down
Only the hunter was hunted
In this tin can town
Tin can town
No stars in the black night
Looks like the sky fell down
Looks like it's chained to the ground
Chained to the ground
The warden said
"The exit is sold
If you want a way out
Silver and gold"
Broken back to the ceiling
Broken nose to the floor
I scream at the silence, it's crawling
It crawls under the door
There's a rope around my neck
And there's a trigger in your gun
Jesus say something
I am someone, I am someone
I am someone
Captain and kings
In the ships hold
They came to collect
Silver and gold
Silver and gold
Seen the coming and the going
Seen them captains and the kings
See them navy blue uniforms
See them bright and shiny things
Bright shiny things
The temperature is rising
The fever white hot
Mister, I ain't got nothing
But it's more than you got
Chains no longer bind me
Not the shackles at my feet
Outside are the prisoners
Inside the free
Set them free
Set them free
A prize fighter in a corner is told
Hit where it hurts
Silver and gold
Silver and gold
The song "Sun City" by S.U.M.P describes the struggles of a person who is trapped in a confined place that is ruled by corrupt authorities. The lyrics metaphorically express the singer's anguish and powerlessness. The first lines describe the situation inside this "tin can town," where someone is holding a shotgun and praying hands are trying to keep them down. This could represent the fear and oppression felt by the inhabitants who are constantly under surveillance and censorship. The line "Only the hunter was hunted" indicates that the people who were meant to protect the town are now the ones who are being hunted by those in power.
The second stanza paints a picture of a town where there is no hope. The sky is dark, there are no stars, and the sun is chained to the ground. This imagery is a bleak representation of the town's future which seems to be inescapably dark. The mention of "Silver and Gold" as a way out draws attention to the fact that those with wealth and resources have a better chance of escaping this misery.
The third stanza expresses the singer's desperation and anger. They are physically broken and alone, screaming into the silence. The mention of the rope around the singer's neck and a trigger in someone else's gun could be a reference to the abuse and violence that is prevalent in this place. The line "Jesus say something, I am someone" could be a plea for help or a defiance against the system that is oppressing them.
Line by Line Meaning
In the shit house a shotgun
The environment is so terrible that even a gun is needed to deal with it.
Praying hands hold me down
I'm trapped and helpless, and I can only pray for help.
Only the hunter was hunted
Those who were originally the victimizer have now become the victim.
In this tin can town
The town is small and cramped, like living in a tin can.
No stars in the black night
There is no hope or light in this darkness.
Looks like the sky fell down
Things are so bad that it seems like even the sky has fallen to the ground.
No sun in the daylight
There is no joy or happiness to be found, even during the day.
Looks like it's chained to the ground
There is no escape from this miserable existence; it feels like being chained to the ground.
The warden said
"The exit is sold
If you want a way out
Silver and gold"
The authority figures only care about money and will only help those who can pay up.
Broken back to the ceiling
Broken nose to the floor
I am physically and emotionally broken; there is no escape from the pain.
I scream at the silence, it's crawling
It crawls under the door
The silence and hopelessness are so overwhelming that it feels like they are alive and suffocating me.
There's a rope around my neck
And there's a trigger in your gun
Jesus say something
I am someone, I am someone
I am someone
I am in a hopeless situation where both my captor and I have power over my life, but I am still begging for dignity and recognition.
Captain and kings
In the ships hold
They came to collect
Silver and gold
Silver and gold
The wealthy exploit and enslave others in order to accumulate more wealth for themselves.
Seen the coming and the going
Seen them captains and the kings
See them navy blue uniforms
See them bright and shiny things
Bright shiny things
I have witnessed the cycle of exploitation and oppression by those in power, who are only interested in their own wealth and status.
The temperature is rising
The fever white hot
Mister, I ain't got nothing
But it's more than you got
Things are getting more intense and desperate, but even in this dire situation, those in power still have less humanity and dignity than those they oppress.
Chains no longer bind me
Not the shackles at my feet
Outside are the prisoners
Inside the free
Set them free
Set them free
Even though I was physically imprisoned, my spirit is now free and I call for the liberation of all those who are still in chains.
A prize fighter in a corner is told
Hit where it hurts
Silver and gold
Silver and gold
Even those who try to fight against oppression are told to just aim for profit, continuing the cycle of greed and exploitation.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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