Imazeghen N Adagh
Tinariwen Lyrics

It's like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder
The world can be a chaotic and dangerous place that raises questions about the human experience.

How I keep from going under
I struggle to survive and maintain my sanity through adversity and hardship.

Broken glass everywhere
The urban environment is degraded and dangerous, with broken glass symbolizing its decay.

People pissing on the stairs, you know they just don't care
The disregard and disrespect for public space and community norms is an expression of social dysfunction.

I can't take the smell, can't take the noise Got no money to move out, I guess, I got no choice
The unpleasant and dangerous conditions of urban poverty make it difficult for me to escape my situation.

Rats in the front room, roaches in the back Junkies in the alley with a baseball bat
Living in squalor, I'm surrounded by pests and violence.

I tried to get away, but I couldn't get far
Despite my best efforts, I'm still trapped and oppressed by the conditions around me.

Cause the man with the tow-truck repossessed my car
My limited means are exploited by those in power, who take away my few possessions.

Don't push me, cause I'm close to the edge I'm trying not to lose my head
My frustration and desperation are pushing me to my limits, and I'm struggling to stay composed.

Standing on the front stoop, hangin out the window Watching all the cars go by, roaring as the breezes blow
I'm a passive observer of the world around me, feeling powerless to change my circumstances.

A crazy lady, livin in a bag Eating out of garbage piles, used to be a fag-hag
Other people around me are also struggling and marginalized, such as this woman reduced to living in poverty and scavenging for food.

Said, she danced the tango, skipped the light fandango Was circon princess, seemed to lost her senses
This woman's memories and fantasies reveal a life of joy and glamor that has since been shattered and lost to her.

Down at the peepshow, watching all the creeps So she can tell the stories to the girls back home
This woman's desperate and degrading behavior is driven by a need to connect with others and survive.

She went to the city and got Social Security She had to get a pimp, she couldn't make it on her own
The social welfare system failed to provide for this woman's basic needs, forcing her to resort to dangerous and exploitative means of support.

My brothers doin' bad, stole my mothers t.v. Says, she watches to much, is just not healthy
The people close to me are also struggling and succumbing to destructive behavior, such as my brother's theft and my mother's excessive TV watching.

"All my children" in the daytime, "Dallas" at night Can't even see the game or the Sugar Ray fight
Even basic entertainment and escapism are elusive due to the oppressive and impoverished conditions of my life.

The bill collectors, they ring my phone And scare my wife, when I'm not home
My personal and financial insecurities are compounded by the harassment and distress inflicted by creditors and the threats they pose to my family.

Got a bum education, double-digit inflation Can't take the train to the job, there's a strike at the station
The economic and educational systems have failed to provide me with opportunities, making it difficult for me to maintain a livelihood.

Neon king kong standin' on my back Can't stop to turn around, broke my sacroiliac
I feel weighed down and oppressed by larger social forces, with my physical and mental health suffering as a result.

A midrange migraine, cancered membrane Sometimes I think I'm going insane, I swear I might hijack a plane!
The physical and emotional toll of poverty and oppression is pushing me to the brink of madness and violent outburst.

My son said, "daddy, I don't wanna go to school Cause the teacher's a jerk, he must think, I'm a fool And all the kids smoke reefer, I think it'd be cheaper If I just got a job, learned to be a street sweeper
My son is also struggling with the flaws and failures of the educational system, feeling that school is pointless and that alternative paths such as manual labor offer more hope.

I dance to the beat, shuffle my feet Wear a shirt and tie and run with the creeps"
I'm trying to put on a brave face and fit in with the urban culture around me, even if it means compromising my values or engaging in risky behavior.

Cause it's all about money, ain't a damn thing funny You got to have a con in this land of milk and honey
The root of many problems and injustices is the relentless and corrupting pursuit of money that dominates society.

They pushed that girl in front of the train Took her to the doctor, sewed the arm on again
Violence and tragedy are common and brutal occurrences in the urban landscape, but even in the face of such horror, people are still able to summon hope and resilience.

Stabbed that man right in his heart Gave him a transplant for a brand new start
Even as people inflict violence upon each other, there are also moments of kindness and compassion that offer a glimpse of redemption and humanity.

I can't walk through the park, cause it's crazy after the dark Keep my hand on the gun, cause they got me on the run
The dangers and threats of the urban environment are pervasive and unrelenting, forcing me to adopt a dangerous and paranoid mindset just to survive.

I feel like an outlaw, broke my last glass jaw Hear them say you want some more, livin on a seesaw
My struggles and conflicts with others have left me battered and injured, both physically and emotionally, leaving me feeling like I'm in a constant state of tension and uncertainty.

A child is born, with no state of mind Blind to the ways of mankind
At birth, a person is innocent and has no worldly knowledge or preconceptions.

God is smiling on you, but he's frowning too Because only God knows, what you go through
God is an enigmatic and inscrutable force that can both bless and curse people, but ultimately, the nature of human suffering remains a mystery even to God.

You grow in the ghetto, living second rate And your eyes will sing a song of deep hate
Growing up in poverty and oppression breeds a deep and profound resentment and bitterness towards the forces and people that keep you down.

The place, that you play and where you stay Looks like one great big alley way
The physical and social environment of the ghetto is oppressive and squalid, with a pervasive feeling of being trapped and degraded.

You'll admire all the number book takers Thugs, pimps and pushers and the big money makers Driving big cars, spending twenties and tens And you wanna grow up to be just like them
Despite their resort to criminal and unethical means of earning money and power, those who succeed in the ghetto are often idolized and envied as role models for how to escape and thrive.

Smugglers, scramblers, burglars, gamblers Pickpockets, peddlers and even pan-handlers
The range of criminal activities that people resort to in the ghetto is diverse and depressing.

You say I'm cool, I'm no fool But then you wind up dropping out of high school
Despite your aspirations and sense of resilience, the harsh realities of life make it difficult to achieve your potential or achieve success in conventional ways like education.

Now you're unemployed, all null 'n void Walking 'round like you're pretty boy floyd
After failing to find work and feeling hopeless, you become aimless and directionless, resorting to bravado and swagger to mask your insecurity.

Turned stickup kid, look what you done did Got send up for a eight year bid
Desperation and a sense of futility lead you to resort to criminal behavior, leading to your imprisonment and loss of freedom.

Now your manhood is took and you're a may tag Spend the next two years as an undercover fag
Imprisonment leads to further degradation and humiliation, as you become the victim of sexual violence and exploitation.

Being used and abused and served like hell Till one day you was found hung dead in a cell
The brutality and injustice of the criminal justice system prove too much to bear, leading you to the tragic end of taking your own life.

It was plain to see that your life was lost You was cold and your body swung back and forth
The tragedy and loss of life is plain and stark, with a sense of finality and hopelessness.

But now your eyes sing the sad sad song Of how you lived so fast and died so young
Even in the face of tragedy and loss, there is a sense of beauty and artistry in the expression of human emotion through song and poetry.

So, don't push me,
I'm already pushed to my limits and can't take anymore.