Inner City Blues
Washington Grover Jr Lyrics
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Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Rockets, moon shots
Spend it on the have nots
Money, we make it
Oh, make you wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
This ain't livin', this ain't livin'
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
No, no, no
Inflation no chance
To increase finance
Bills pile up sky high
Send that boy off to die
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Hang ups, let downs
Bad breaks, set backs
Natural fact is
I can't pay my taxes
Oh, make me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Yea, it makes me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Crime is increasing
Trigger happy policing
Panic is spreading
God know where we're heading
Oh, make me wanna holler
They don't understand
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Who are they to judge us
Simply cause we wear our hair long
The lyrics to "Make Me a Memory" by Washington Grover Jr. are a poignant commentary on the struggles of life, particularly for marginalized communities. The opening lines of the song set the stage for the themes of the song, which touch on issues related to economics, social justice, inequality, and violence. Grover Jr. sings about rockets and moon shots, alluding to the space race between the US and Soviet Union in the 1960s, and how this race was funded at the expense of the have-nots. He talks about how money is made and then taken away before it can be enjoyed, causing frustration and a sense of hopelessness. The lyrics "Make me wanna holler, the way they do my life" and "This ain't livin', this ain't livin'" express the sense of anger and despair that the singer feels about his circumstances.
The second verse is about the economic struggles of the time, with inflation making it difficult to increase finance and bills piling up sky-high. The mention of sending boys off to die is an allusion to the Vietnam War, which claimed the lives of thousands of soldiers from poor and working-class backgrounds. The singer's frustration and anger build, with the lyrics "Hang ups, let downs, bad breaks, set backs," highlighting the many obstacles he faces. He then sings about not being able to pay his taxes and how this adds to his stress. This verse emphasizes that while economic struggles can be challenging, the addition of societal oppression and systemic injustice adds an extra layer of difficulty to daily life.
The final verse touches on social unrest and the tense relationship between the police and the community, as well as the broader sense of panic and uncertainty. The lyrics, "Trigger happy policing, panic is spreading, God knows where we're heading" are particularly impactful in light of current events relating to police brutality and social justice. The song's final lines, "Mother, mother, everybody thinks we're wrong, who are they to judge us simply cause we wear our hair long," speak to the generational divide and social norms that limit people's ability to live authentically and feel accepted in their own skin.
Overall, "Make Me a Memory" is a powerful and evocative song that speaks to the struggles faced by many people, particularly those who are marginalized due to their race, class, or social status.
Line by Line Meaning
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Musical interlude
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Musical interlude
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Musical interlude
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Musical interlude
Dah, dah, dah
Musical interlude
Rockets, moon shots
Our government is spending money on expensive space programs
Spend it on the have nots
We should be using this money to support those in need
Money, we make it
We work hard for our money
Fore we see it you take it
The government takes a significant portion of our income in taxes before we even get to use it
Oh, make you wanna holler
It's frustrating and angering to see our hard-earned money taken without our input
The way they do my life
The way the government operates and treats us as citizens is disheartening
Make me wanna holler
It's so frustrating it makes us want to yell
This ain't livin', this ain't livin'
The situation we're in is not sustainable or enjoyable
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
It's not the standard of living we should have
No, no, no
Repeats previous line
Inflation no chance
Due to inflation, our financial situation doesn't have much chance of improving
To increase finance
It's challenging to increase our finances in this economic climate
Bills pile up sky high
Our bills are piling up and it's challenging to pay them off
Send that boy off to die
Young men are being sent off to fight in wars and, in many cases, to their death
Hang ups, let downs
Life is full of obstacles and disappointments
Bad breaks, set backs
Things frequently go wrong and we encounter setbacks
Natural fact is
It's a fact of life
I can't pay my taxes
It's difficult to keep up with tax payments
Oh, make me wanna holler
We're frustrated and upset with the current state of affairs
And throw up both my hands
We feel helpless and unable to make a difference in our own lives
Crime is increasing
Crime rates are on the rise
Trigger happy policing
Police are quick to use force, sometimes unnecessarily
Panic is spreading
Fear and anxiety are becoming more widespread
God know where we're heading
We're uncertain and scared about the future
They don't understand
The people who have power don't seem to understand or care about our struggles
Mother, mother
Addressing a mother, perhaps the embodiment of nurturing and caretaking
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Our perspectives and experiences are often dismissed or invalidated
Who are they to judge us
Why do they have the right to judge us so harshly?
Simply cause we wear our hair long
Our appearance shouldn't be a basis for judgment or prejudice
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES NYX, MARVIN GAYE, MARVIN P GAYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ludvik Svestka
Rest in Peace great man, you are forever in our hearts❤️❤️❤️🇨🇿
Sol
This was my first Grover record. Had my eye out for any of his CTI stuff so when I stumbled across this with my favourite drummer Idris Muhammad and the likes of Bob James, Ron Carter and Eric Gale... couldn't go wrong! Think Airto is on percussion too if memory serves me... what a line-up. My copy is also a Motown pressing which I haven't seen much of!
Wael Abdelgawad
What an unrelenting, exquisite jam. Blew MY MIND!!!
JajahRiseUp
Grover Washington is a true visionary in his works
tunefultony johnson
The cover versions of this tune are diverse, ranging from Joe Cocker, to Maceo Parker, to Brian Auger's Oblivion Express, to Sarah Vaughan, to Reuben Wilson, to Sly Dunbar, even to James Last.... Grover's is the best funky instrumental version, by any yardstick.....
MicroNuggets
In your opinion of course.
Stefan Stefanski
Amen
Journey Into Sound
I like the Reuben Wilson version, the drums and bass are a bit thicker and funkier sounding to me. Classic tribe called quest sample too. Love this Grover version as well, but gotta say don’t be too quick to say it’s the best :P
Anthony Wallace
I was a young boy listening to my father album. I miss this days
Gary Goodin
Takes me back when I was lo-ridin my 66 Impala, lifted front and back in San Diego. Loving it all the way. Say what?