Williams has published four books of poetry: "The Seventh Octave", "S/he", ",said the shotgun to the head." and "The Dead Emcee Scrolls"; and released six albums: Amethyst Rock Star, the self titled Saul Williams, The Inevitable Rise and Liberation Of Niggy Tardust, Volcanic Sunlight, MartyrLoserKing and most recently, Encrypted & Vulnerable.
Trigger
Saul Williams Lyrics
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And you don't like the way the chisel glang
You want to blame it on the government
On why you got to money for your rent?
You want to start a revolution
And blame it on the institution
You know there's only one solution
The trigger is you, the nigger is you
The trigger is you, the nigger is you
The trigger is you, the nigger is you
So what you gonna do?
You wanna blame them boys in Lebanon
And act like you don't know where they get it from
You want to project all your problems
And murder every way to solve them
Would Jesus Christ come back American?
What if he's Iraqi and here again?
You'd have to finally face your fears, my friend
Who's gonna hold your hand when that happens?
The trigger is you, the nigger is you
The trigger is you, the nigger is you
The trigger is you, the nigger is you
So what you gonna do?
What do you teach your children about me?
What do you teach your little children about me?
Pimp, thug, bling, drug lord of the underground kings
How can you be sure I won't call down the rain?
What do you teach your little children about me?
You point your gun wait hide and run
I see it plain
The trigger is you, the nigger is you
The nigger is you, the trigger is you
The trigger is you, the nigger is you
So what you gonna do?
The trigger is you, the nigger is you
The trigger is you, the nigger is you
The trigger is you, the trigger is you
So what you gonna do, what you gonna do?
The song "Trigger" by Saul Williams is a confrontational piece that tackles issues of responsibility, identity, and revolution. The opening lines challenge the listener's dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs and their tendency to shift blame onto the government or external forces. The idea of revolution is suggested but is met with skepticism and a sense of urgency as the singer questions what the listener will actually do to effect change. The repetition of the line "the trigger is you, the nigger is you" brings the focus back to personal responsibility and the use of racial slurs highlights the connection between individual actions and societal racism.
The second verse brings attention to complex identity issues, asking whether Jesus would be embraced if he were not American or Christian. This line suggests that acceptance and identity are determined by dominant power structures and reinforces the idea that individuals have the power to dismantle and rebuild those structures. The verse also addresses the negative stereotypes associated with black individuals in the media and the danger of perpetuating such damaging stereotypes. The final repetition of "the trigger is you" is a call to action, a demand to confront difficult truths and take responsibility for one's own power and influence.
Overall, the song urges the listener to reject complacency and apathy and to take ownership of their role in creating systemic change. It highlights the interconnectedness of individual and collective power and encourages a willingness to examine and challenge dominant narratives and structures.
Line by Line Meaning
So you don't like the way we're running things
You disagree with how society is currently functioning
And you don't like the way the chisel glang
You are dissatisfied with the negative sound effects of this societal system
You want to blame it on the government
You seek to find someone to hold accountable for this system
On why you got to money for your rent?
You are angry about financial insecurity in your life
You want to start a revolution
You want to overthrow the current system
And blame it on the institution
The societal institution is at fault
You know there's only one solution
Revolution is your only answer
Now tell me what you're gonna do son
What is your plan of action?
The trigger is you, the n****r is you
You are the root cause of these problems
So what you gonna do?
What action are you going to take to solve these issues?
You wanna blame them boys in Lebanon
You want to point fingers at others for issues that stem from your own society
And act like you don't know where they get it from
You pretend to be unaware of the origin of these issues
You want to project all your problems
You place your own societal problems onto other nations
And murder every way to solve them
And you are willing to use violent means to solve these issues
Would Jesus Christ come back American?
You question the assumptions and preconceptions ingrained in society
What if he's Iraqi and here again?
What if someone from a different background challenges societal assumptions?
You'd have to finally face your fears, my friend
That would be a scary and uncomfortable experience for many people
Who's gonna hold your hand when that happens?
No one is going to comfort you through that process
What do you teach your children about me?
What are you conveying to the next generation about societal issues?
Pimp, thug, bling, drug lord of the underground kings
You teach your children harmful stereotypes about certain groups
How can you be sure I won't call down the rain?
You can't predict what someone will do based on these stereotypes
You point your gun wait hide and run
You use weapons and fear tactics to defend against perceived threats
The trigger is you, the n****r is you
Again, you are the root cause of these societal issues
The trigger is you, the trigger is you
You must take action to enact change
So what you gonna do, what you gonna do?
What steps will you take to improve societal issues?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RANOY TRAVIS GORDON, AEION HOILETT, SHAUNA GAYE M MCKENZIE, SHERITA LEWIS, DWAIN ANDRE CAMPBELL-FLETCHER, CONROE PINNOCK, HOPETON WILLIAMS, CHRISTOPHER TYRELL, VERN HILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind