Bleed
The Negro Problem is the brain child of Mark Stewart (aka Stew) and perform… Read Full Bio ↴The Negro Problem is the brain child of Mark Stewart (aka Stew) and performs an intriguing blend of psychedelic rock, funk, motown r&b, and Bacharach-style pop. The band's name is meant to be ironic, as the music industry doesn't seem to know what to do with a band fronted by a black man that doesn't necessarily perform what gets typically shoehorned as "black music" in the modern segregated music industry. The band tries to harken back to the era of "Jimi Hendrix" and "Sly and the Family Stone", where rock music wasn't just marked as a "white" genre, and lovers of smart, biting, well-crafted pop music are definitely richer for their efforts.
Stew is now on Broadway with his Tony award winning (Best Book) Passing Strange.

Bleed
The Negro Problem Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I just need to see you
I would love to turn your vice
And make a silly error twice

She isn't dreamy
She just needs to see me
Drowning in the mainstream flow
And frowning wherever I go

So come down now little one
Leave your place in the sun

I come in bleeding
Stumbling round and needing
I would love to burn your trash
And make a picture with the ash

I come in storming
Before your cloud starts forming
I would love to cut your hair
And leave and empty promise there

So come down now little one
Leave your place in the sun

Start your engine
But don't forget to mention
To your friend that I need work
Don't remind her I'm a jerk

Enter clowning
Enjoy me while I'm downing
Drink tickets and poison herbs
Courtesy of the suburbs





So come down now little one
Leave your place in the sun >

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Negro Problem's song Bleed do not have a straightforward meaning. It appears to be a stream-of-consciousness description of a relationship that is dysfunctional but still somehow compelling.


The first verse talks about the singer's desire to see the person they love, and how they would like to repeat a mistake they had made before. It suggests that the two people have a history, and that the singer's feelings for this person are very strong.


The second verse describes the other person's feelings in the relationship as well. She also needs to see the singer, but is "drowning in the mainstream flow," suggesting that she is trying to conform to societal expectations. The singer, on the other hand, is "frowning wherever I go," implying that they do not fit in with mainstream society.


The chorus seems to be a plea for the other person to recognize the singer's feelings and leave their comfortable life (their "place in the sun") to be with them.


The third verse is more aggressive, with the singer saying they come in "bleeding" and "needing." They want to "burn your trash" and "cut your hair," suggesting a desire to rid the other person of their past and their physical attributes.


The final verse talks about the singer's insecurities, as they mention needing work and being a "jerk." They ask the other person to introduce them to their friend, but also urge them not to mention the singer's flaws. The verse ends with a warning about how the singer will behave if they go out together – they will be a "clown" who drinks "poison herbs," courtesy of the suburbs.


Overall, the song seems to be about a complicated, unstable relationship that is driven by strong emotions and conflicting desires.


Line by Line Meaning

I don't bleed you
I am not hurting you


I just need to see you
I just want to be near you


I would love to turn your vice
I would love to help correct your bad habits


And make a silly error twice
And make the same mistake again


She isn't dreamy
She is not perfect


She just needs to see me
She just wants to be near me


Drowning in the mainstream flow
Overwhelmed by the popular trends


And frowning wherever I go
And feeling unhappy everywhere I go


So come down now little one
Come down from your high position


Leave your place in the sun
Leave your comfortable and privileged life


I come in bleeding
I come in with wounds


Stumbling round and needing
Moving clumsily and in need of help


I would love to burn your trash
I would love to help clean up your mess


And make a picture with the ash
And make something beautiful out of the remains


I come in storming
I come in full force


Before your cloud starts forming
Before your problems get worse


I would love to cut your hair
I would love to help you change your style


And leave an empty promise there
But not follow through on my offer


Start your engine
Get ready to move


But don't forget to mention
But don't forget to talk about


To your friend that I need work
To your friend that I am looking for a job


Don't remind her I'm a jerk
But don't tell her that I have a bad reputation


Enter clowning
Acting silly


Enjoy me while I'm downing
Having fun at my expense


Drink tickets and poison herbs
Drinking and taking drugs that are harmful


Courtesy of the suburbs
Provided by the privileged and wealthy areas


So come down now little one
Come down from your high position


Leave your place in the sun
Leave your comfortable and privileged life




Contributed by Olivia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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