There is another artist known as SIMS, who is the creator of RAS (Respectful Alliance of Souldierz) a multi-cultural hiphopcru. Before he made his music, he started dancing on old school and he also was active as a graffiti writer.
15 Blocks
Sims Lyrics
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I walk 15 blocks just to phrase one correctly
A rolling example of what the day spun directly
Tied tongue reflecting on her eyes and digesting
Tryin' to shake it off, if I could shake it off
Death meets my breath in a wide mouthed yawn
While the pres. meets the press on the white house lawn
My nights tryin' to shake it off
And they say we're lost
And I say you're right
My generation is the seed to Vietnam
They never believed in better bombs
They never to bleed
They better to be
So better to bleed
He said it all wrong
Can I get it all calm?
Give a call to my mom
The prison I'm in
Or call it a loss
Causes are lost
Your mind's behind bars
And your heart's on gauze?
Fuck it, I'm ready to walk
This is my veto
My feet bleedin' through my sneakers
So listen to the speaker
Easy when you see the young gun
Heat seeker lungs stung with black tar
Never act harder than I am
I never play or pretend
I'm just a man surviving in the modern ways to contend
So turn the fade up to 10
And let the bangin' begin
Seeds of the 80's party
Day we take up effects
'Bout to our necks by Reagan and friends
And now to say my amends
Pray for a brighter then the 9 to 5 to life a sentence
Micheal's pickin' peppers payin' piper penance
Even I could rise to menace
A stoop the greatness
Either way my dues are paid in full
Some choose to play the wolf
Some play the sheep and cry
I choose, 'til the day I die
[2x]
I walk 15 blocks just to phrase one correctly
A rolling example of what the day spun directly
Tied tongue reflecting on her eyes and digesting
Tryin' to shake it off, if I could shake it off
Live while you march to the tap of the typewriter
9 ciphers lookin' for life in my head
I'm tired of the voices
Never had a choice the rest
Gotta press, wait, gotta tread
But I wish I woulda never heard the news
And now I know what doove really said
Confusing mess
That shit is fresh
But still inside the fear's consuming
Tryin' to put the foot down
So I can stop this fear from movin'
So I can catch up, fuck it
I bloom another match up to another cig
I swore would be my last one
The chain went off of that
And spit the hack up on the deck
Just to put exactly where I laid a step
My stressed breath's gettin' shallower with every pull
And in effect up either restless for the...
But in it's essence it wrecks me
Like two speeding cars
One way intersecting
And I'm left guessing
Which one's gonna make it out
Well I got pins in my frame
So this time I'm breakin' out
So for now I stroll alone
On a broken ghost
Broken bones as a ghost
I'm on a walkin' comatose (Features frozen)
Expression is dead
As the president's spoken
I need a medic to set it
And said it and a better moment than now
Lost crow, lost soul
Found on the branch of the Doomtree
And if the day does to you
What the day does to me
Throw your fuckin' hands up
And thank God for Laser Beak
Thank God for Doomtree
I walk 15 blocks just to phrase one correctly
A rolling example of what the day spun directly
Tied tongue reflecting on her eyes and digesting
Tryin' to shake it off, if I could shake it off
Washed ashore with bullet holes
In our civilian clothes
Well I still ain't got it right
So I'll walk some more
And bid this burning city a good night
[French dialogue from La Haine]
Jusqu'ici tout va bien (So far, so good)
In Sims's song 15 Blocks, the lyrics explore the struggles of everyday life and the difficulties of communication. The song starts with Sims walking 15 blocks to phrase a sentence correctly, highlighting the importance of effective communication. He then reflects on the state of the country with the juxtaposition of death meeting breath and the president meeting with the press. He also touches on the struggles of his generation, the seeds of Vietnam, and the societal pressures that lead to feeling lost and trapped. The song ends with Sims walking through the city, still struggling, but determined to keep moving forward.
The line "seed to Vietnam" references the fact that many soldiers drafted during the Vietnam War were from the baby boomer generation.
The line "they never believed in better bombs, they never to bleed, they better to be" is a commentary on the government's preference for weapons and bombs over human lives.
The line "Michael's picking peppers paying piper penance" references the poem "Peter Piper" and suggests that hard work leads to personal growth and redemption.
The French dialogue at the end of the song is from the movie La Haine and translates to "So far, so good." This phrase is often used as a symbol of hope in difficult situations.
The song is part of Sims's album Bad Time Zoo, which was released in 2011.
Bad Time Zoo was Sims's second solo album, following his debut Lights Out Paris in 2005.
Sims is a member of the hip hop collective Doomtree, which is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Doomtree has released several highly acclaimed albums and has been praised for its unique blend of punk, hip hop, and electronic music.
Sims is known for his poignant and introspective lyrics, which are often accompanied by powerful beats and instrumentals.
The chords for 15 Blocks are not readily available, as the song is primarily rap with limited singing.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk 15 blocks just to phrase one correctly
The singer spends a significant amount of time walking just to think through and phrase his thoughts properly
A rolling example of what the day spun directly
The singer's experiences and thoughts are a reflection of the events that have happened throughout his day
Tied tongue reflecting on her eyes and digesting
The singer is reflecting on his conversation with someone, specifically trying to understand their emotions and reactions
Tryin' to shake it off, if I could shake it off
The singer is trying to let go of negative feelings and thoughts, but it's difficult
Death meets my breath in a wide mouthed yawn
The singer is contemplating death and the fragility of life
While the pres. meets the press on the white house lawn
Contrasting with death, the politician and the press discuss bigger issues on a public stage
My generation is the seed to Vietnam
The singer's generation was heavily affected by the Vietnam War
They never believed in better bombs
The government did not see the potential harm and destruction as a negative aspect of bomb warfare
He said it all wrong, Can I get it all calm?
Someone said something wrong and the singer is trying to slow the situation down and get it back on track
Live while you march to the tap of the typewriter
The singer is encouraging people to write their own stories and live the life they want while they still have a chance
But I wish I woulda never heard the news
The singer is referring to bad news affecting his wellbeing
And now I know what doove really said
The singer has a clear view of what's really going on now, and it's disheartening
So for now I stroll alone
The singer is taking solace in solitude to process thoughts and emotions
Washed ashore with bullet holes
A powerful image of people tragically losing their lives
In our civilian clothes
The tragedy and violence can happen to anyone, anywhere
Jusqu'ici tout va bien (So far, so good)
A quote from the film La Haine, referencing the singer's mentality that everything might look okay on the surface despite what is really going on
Contributed by Aubrey I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.