Born in Cleveland, Ohio,U.S., Tracy Chapman began playing guitar and writing songs as a child. She received a scholarship through A Better Chance that allowed her to attend Wooster School in Connecticut, and was eventually accepted to Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
Tracy Chapman helped restore songwriters to the spotlight in the '80s. The multi-platinum success of Chapman's eponymous 1988 debut was unexpected, and it had lasting impact. Although Chapman was working from the same confessional songwriter foundation that had been popularized in the '70s, her songs were fresh and powerful, driven by simple melodies and affecting lyrics. At the time of her first album, there were only a handful of artists performing such a style successfully, and her success ushered in a new era of songwriters that lasted well into the '90s. Along with 10,000 Maniacs and R.E.M., Chapman's liberal politics proved enormously influential on American college campuses in the late '80s.
Official Website: http://www.tracychapman.com
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Why
Tracy Chapman Lyrics
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When there's enough food to feed the world
Why when there are so many of us
Are there people still alone
Why are the missiles called peace keepers
When they're aimed to kill
Why is a woman still not safe
Love is hate
War is peace
No is yes
And we're all free
But somebody's gonna have to answer
The time is coming soon
Amidst all these questions and contradictions
There are some who seek the truth
But somebody's gonna have to answer
The time is coming soon
When the blind remove their blinders
And the speechless speak the truth
Tracy Chapman's song "Why" is a poignant commentary on the paradoxes and injustices of our modern world. The opening lines, "Why do the babies starve when there's enough food to feed the world?" reflect the paradox of food shortages and hunger amidst plenty. The song then goes on to ask why there are still people who are alone despite the fact that there are so many of us in the world.
The second verse highlights the contradiction between the names given to weapons of mass destruction and their true purpose in killing people. The song then shifts focus to the issue of domestic violence, questioning why a woman is still not safe even in her own home.
The chorus of the song sets up a broader context for these contradictions, suggesting that our society is filled with paradoxes where opposites are often presented as the same. The final verse returns to the theme of seeking truth and answers, suggesting that there are still many who seek the truth and that the time is coming soon when they will be heard.
Overall, "Why" is a powerful critique of the social, political and economic issues of our times. It highlights the many contradictions that exist in our world and calls on us to seek the truth and to act on it.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do the babies starve
Why is it that innocent children have to suffer from hunger and malnutrition?
When there's enough food to feed the world
Despite there being enough food resources in the world, why are there still babies starving?
Why when there are so many of us
With so many people coexisting together, why is there a prevalence of isolation and loneliness?
Are there people still alone
Why do people feel socially excluded and unable to form meaningful connections?
Why are the missiles called peace keepers
What is the underlying reason for weapons of mass destruction being labeled as tools used to maintain peace?
When they're aimed to kill
Despite these weapons being branded as peace keepers, why are they targeted towards destruction and death?
Why is a woman still not safe
What causes women to continue experiencing danger and insecurity, even in their own homes?
When she's in her home
What is it about the home that does not provide a safe space for women?
Love is hate
How can love, often associated with positivity, be twisted and transformed into a destructive force?
War is peace
What makes war, an avid symbol of violence and destruction, an acceptable source of peace?
No is yes
Why do people choose to manipulate language to bend the truth and pervert reality?
And we're all free
Despite the contradictions and false realities present in society, why are people still convinced of their own freedom?
But somebody's gonna have to answer
Someone must take accountability for these questions and uncertainties.
The time is coming soon
The urgency to seek the truth and confront difficult questions will not subside.
Amidst all these questions and contradictions
In the face of all these uncertainties, why do individuals still pursue the truth?
There are some who seek the truth
Despite the complexities of the world and the absence of concrete answers, there are individuals committed to discovering the truth.
When the blind remove their blinders
Once people remove the barriers and limitations that prevent them from perceiving the world truthfully,
And the speechless speak the truth
and once silenced individuals are given a platform to vocalize their experiences and perspectives, the truth can finally be unveiled.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TRACY L CHAPMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind