Public Defender
SOA Lyrics
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You better move quick
He's gonna hit you with a stick
it doesn't matter what you've done
you're gonna suffer for his fun
[Chorus]
Red, Blue, they're coming for you
Red and Blue they're coming for you
Sirens Revved, you're gonna be DEAD
Stops your car
Looks inside
asks you "Where you been tonight?"
Doesn't like you
Everybody knows
Don't like your hair
Don't like your clothes
[Chorus]
Give the people a load of shit
He doesn't care a fucking bit
...And justice for all but not for you
there's not a fucking thing to do
[Chorus]
The lyrics to SOA's song "Public Defender" highlight the systemic issues within law enforcement and the broader criminal justice system. The first verse paints a picture of police brutality and the use of unnecessary force against the citizens they are meant to protect. The lines "You better move quick, He's gonna hit you with a stick" alludes to police officers abusing their power and using their batons without just cause. This is something that has been a contentious issue in America for years, with numerous cases of police brutality making headlines.
The second verse touches on racial profiling and the judgment of individuals based on their appearance. The lines "Don't like your hair, Don't like your clothes" speaks to the tendency of law enforcement to target individuals who do not fit the perceived mold of a "good citizen." The chorus reinforces the idea that the police are coming after you, regardless of whether you have done anything wrong or not. The lines "Red, Blue, they're coming for you, Sirens revved, you're gonna be dead" paint a picture of fear and intimidation that many individuals in marginalized communities feel on a regular basis.
The final verse speaks to the justice system's ineffectiveness and inability to protect those who need it most. The line "...And justice for all but not for you, there's not a fucking thing to do" highlights the structural issues that plague the modern criminal justice system. SOA's "Public Defender" is a poignant commentary on police brutality, racial profiling, and the systemic issues that need to be addressed to create a more equitable society.
Line by Line Meaning
See 'em coming
Police are approaching
You better move quick
You need to act fast and try to avoid them
He's gonna hit you with a stick
The police will use violence against you
it doesn't matter what you've done
The police do not care about your actual actions or guilt
you're gonna suffer for his fun
The police derive pleasure from punishing people
[Chorus]
Refrain emphasizing the threat of police brutality and abuse of power
Red, Blue, they're coming for you
Police are indiscriminate and target everyone
Sirens revved, you're gonna be dead
The police will be violent and deadly
Stops your car
The police forcibly stop you
Looks inside
The police intrude into your personal space
asks you 'Where you been tonight?'
The police are suspicious of and interrogate you
Doesn't like you
The police discriminate based on appearance, personality, or other unjustified reasons
Everybody knows
This injustice is well-known and pervasive
Don't like your hair
The police judge and condemn people based on trivial characteristics
Don't like your clothes
Appearance-based bigotry is a real issue among police
Give the people a load of shit
The police are dishonest and deceitful in their dealings with the public
He doesn't care a fucking bit
The police officer has no compassion or empathy for those they target
...And justice for all but not for you
The idea of justice for all is a sham; it only applies to certain people
there's not a fucking thing to do
Victims of police abuse are powerless and unable to fight back
[Chorus]
Refrain emphasizing the threat of police brutality and abuse of power
Contributed by Caden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.