Baltimore
The Senior Allstars Lyrics
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On a marble stair
Tryin' to find the ocean
Lookin' everywhere
Hard times in the city
In a hard town by the sea
Ain't nowhere to run to
Hooker on the corner
Waitin' for a train
Drunk lyin' on the sidewalk
Sleepin' in the rain
And they hide their faces
And they hide their eyes
'Cause the city's dyin'
And they don't know why
Oh, Baltimore
Man, it's hard just to live
Oh, Baltimore
Man, it's hard just to live, just to live
Get my sister Sandy
And my little brother Ray
Buy a big old wagon
Gonna haul us all away
Livin' in the country
Where the mountain's high
Never comin' back here
'Til the day I die
Oh, Baltimore
Man, it's hard just to live
Oh, Baltimore
Man, it's hard just to live, just to live
Beat-up little seagull
Tryin' to find the ocean
Baltimore, Oh
Baltimore, Oh
Live
Baltimore, Oh
Baltimore
Just to live
In the song "Baltimore" by The Senior Allstars, the lyrics describe the gritty and desperate reality of life in a city that is struggling to survive. The song opens with a seagull, a symbol of freedom and the ocean, which represents hope and escape. But the bird is beat-up and lost, emphasizing that even the symbols of escape are struggling to find a way out. The chorus "Man, it's hard just to live" highlights the struggles of making ends meet in the harsh city environment.
The lyrics also speak to the other individuals struggling in the city; the hooker on the corner, the drunk on the sidewalk, and the people with hidden faces and eyes, trying to hide from the harsh realities of their environment. The second half of the song then shifts towards hope for a better life, with the singer looking to get himself and his family out of the city and into the mountains, where life is simpler and freer. The repetition of "Baltimore, Oh" and "Live" at the end of the song echoes the seagull's search for the ocean and freedom, and suggests that the singer is not giving up hope for a better life, even in the face of hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
Beat-up little seagull
A tired bird that is trying hard to find peace
On a marble stair
Struggling to get somewhere, but stuck on a hard surface
Tryin' to find the ocean
Looking for a place of calm and freedom
Lookin' everywhere
Searching far and wide in desperation
Hard times in the city
Difficult living conditions in a troubled urban area
In a hard town by the sea
Living in a rough area along the ocean
Ain't nowhere to run to
Nowhere to escape the challenges of city life
There ain't nothin' here for free
No opportunities or resources available without effort
Hooker on the corner
A woman selling her body for money
Waitin' for a train
Passing time while waiting for a means of escape
Drunk lyin' on the sidewalk
Someone passed out from too much alcohol, lying on the pavement
Sleepin' in the rain
Forced to rest outside in poor weather conditions
And they hide their faces
People feel ashamed of their situation and try to hide
And they hide their eyes
People are too scared or defeated to make eye contact
'Cause the city's dyin'
The city is in decline, with few signs of improvement
And they don't know why
The people cannot understand why things are getting worse
Oh, Baltimore
The city with all its problems
Man, it's hard just to live
Simply existing is challenging and requires great effort
Get my sister Sandy
Making plans to leave the city and find a new life
And my little brother Ray
Taking family members along on the journey
Buy a big old wagon
Investing in a means of transportation for the trip
Gonna haul us all away
Leaving the city behind for good
Livin' in the country
Making a fresh start somewhere new and rural
Where the mountain's high
Going somewhere with beautiful views and natural wonders
Never comin' back here
Leaving the city and never looking back
'Til the day I die
Looking forward to a better life, no matter how long it takes
Baltimore, Oh
Referring to the city one last time before departing
Baltimore
The name of the city, with all its troubles and difficulties
Just to live
Showing that basic survival is a major accomplishment in such a harsh environment
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RANDY NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind