The City
Schaffer the Darklord Lyrics
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Otherwise my eyes are in my palm as it all flies by
Can't remember what it was I tried to find when I arrived
Came here with some purpose, now I've forgotten why I
Haven't left yet, haven't hedged my bets yet
Half dead and yet, haven't halved half my debits yet
I get lost like I'm at sea, crossing streets I cross so thoughtlessly
Can't believe I haven't gotten slaughtered off so awfully
Ah! Ah! I can feel The City breathing on me
Pushing down upon me, gathering ground around me
Shiver in the shadows of colossi surrounding me
So pretty from a distance, spend a minute in it, and it turns to vinegar in an instant
For instance, I forgotten where I'm from, though I know I miss it
And I'm a about to hit my limit with it - hit it!
You and I, we all reside
In this nightmare of glass and steel, we will die
With hopeless eyes and broken strides
Rats in the flood will struggle, but won't survive
And we just lie to ourselves, that what we find in our hell
Makes all the suffering that we endure all worthwhile well
The City Ruins Everything
The City Ruins Everything
The City Ruins Everything
The City Ruins Everything
Spirit quickly broken, yet you try to make the most of it
But hopelessness will hold you back, the rope The City chokes you with
Emotionless expressions all around you, cold and loneliness and homelessness
But you can't move away, you can't afford it yet
And everything that brings you out is countered by that sinking doubt
It makes you dwell on money and how you can't do a thing without it
Yeah think about it, cry and down in drinks and drown it
Droppin' a couple of hundred dollars an hour - tell your shrink about it
Claw through crowds impossibly impatient and loud
Bottleneck the sidewalks, on the trains, underground
Elevators, escalators, every place they take you make you fray a little greater
Praying for escape and I can't take it!
You and I, we all reside
In this nightmare of glass and steel, we will die
With hopeless eyes and broken strides
Rats in the flood will struggle, but won't survive
And we just lie to ourselves, that what we find in our hell
Makes all the suffering that we endure all worthwhile well
The City Ruins Everything
The City Ruins Everything
The City Ruins Everything
The City Ruins Everything
This could be anywhere, but listen here this is here
This is fear, this is why I empty baggies, swim in beer
This is why I'm hopeful when the preacher's hiss "The end is near"
This is why my tears are drowned out, the only sound I hear
The deafening cacophony of car horns and sirens
The news reports police are charged with hard-core violence
Sacrifice my dreams for a heart cold as stone
Been years, but locals are still calling me tourist hollering "Go Home!"
But I don't know where home is in this rental in this building
Never felt more alone then when I am among millions
I've been beaten, defeated, mistreated, cheated, I've ceded
I'll never make it out alive because I still love it too much to leave it!
You and I, we all reside
In this nightmare of glass and steel, we will die
With hopeless eyes and broken strides
Rats in the flood will struggle, but won't survive
And we just lie to ourselves, that what we find in our hell
Makes all the suffering that we endure all worthwhile well
You and I, we all reside
In this nightmare of glass and steel, we will die
With hopeless eyes and broken strides
Rats in the flood will struggle, but won't survive
And we just lie to ourselves, that what we find in our hell
Makes all the suffering that we endure all worthwhile well
The City Ruins Everything
New York Ruins Everything
San Francisco Ruins Everything
Chicago Ruins Everything
Austin Ruins Everything
L.A. Ruins Everything
Atlanta Ruins Everything
And Every City Ruins Portland
"The City" by Schaffer the Darklord is a rap song that portrays a deeply personal and bleak picture of life in one of America's largest cities, where the skyline is the only source of wonder amidst the drudgery of daily life. The lyrics describe a state of aimless drifting and disillusionment, where hopes and dreams are replaced by endless struggles and survival instincts. The singer seems to be at odds with his surroundings, grappling with a sense of identity and purpose that is constantly eroded by the harsh realities of urban living. He paints a vivid picture of a city that is simultaneously beautiful and ugly, with all its glamour and grandeur countered by the overwhelming sense of despair and desperation that pervades its streets.
The song highlights the challenges and difficulties faced by millions of people who live in large cities around the world, where the pace of life is frenetic and the pressures of everyday existence can be overwhelming. It is a reminder that even in the midst of towering skyscrapers and bustling streets, there is often a sense of alienation and disconnectedness that can be difficult to overcome.
Line by Line Meaning
It is night time every time I admire the skyline
I only appreciate the cityscape at night because any other time, I am too distracted to notice it
Otherwise my eyes are in my palm as it all flies by
When I'm not looking at the skyline, I'm too busy with something else to pay attention
Can't remember what it was I tried to find when I arrived
I had a reason for coming to the city, but I can't recall it anymore
Came here with some purpose, now I've forgotten why I
I arrived with a goal in mind, but now I can't even remember what it was
Ha! Ha! Laughing cautiously and she's like Ah! Ah! I can feel The City breathing on me
I laugh nervously as the city makes me feel suffocated and trapped
So pretty from a distance, spend a minute in it, and it turns to vinegar in an instant
The city looks nice from far away, but being in it for even a short time ruins that perception
For instance, I forgotten where I'm from, though I know I miss it
I've become so consumed by The City that I can't remember my hometown, even though I know I miss it
The City Ruins Everything
The city destroys everything, from people's spirits to their dreams
Emotionless expressions all around you, cold and loneliness and homelessness
People in the city are numb and distant, creating a climate of coldness, loneliness, and homelessness
And everything that brings you out is countered by that sinking doubt, It makes you dwell on money and how you can't do a thing without it
When you're feeling good about The City, a sense of doubt creeps in and you worry about how much money you need just to survive
Elevators, escalators, every place they take you make you fray a little greater
Going up or down in elevators and escalators are stressful experiences that wear you down little by little
This could be anywhere, but listen here this is here, This is fear, this is why I empty baggies, swim in beer
The city may not be unique in its terribleness, but it causes so much fear that people turn to self-destructive behaviors to cope
Never felt more alone then when I am among millions, I've been beaten, defeated, mistreated, cheated, I've ceded
Even when surrounded by millions of people, I feel utterly alone because The City is so harsh and unforgiving
I'll never make it out alive because I still love it too much to leave it!
Despite all of the damage The City has caused me, I'm too attached to it to ever leave
Contributed by Anna L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.