In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
[Intro: Papoose]
You wanna go to war let's get it in
If war bring peace I'm with it then
I don't start beef I finish it
Ghetto soldiers we militant
[Akon]:
I don't like to fuss or fight, just tryin to live life right
Don't take my kindness for weakness cause I will take your life
First I will walk away, unless you push me to play
That's somethin I know you'll regret so please don't forget
[Chorus: Akon]
I'm a ghetto soldier, desperado!!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, my gun sing oh!!!!!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, how wise and cold!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, my mind sing oh!!!!!! (HEY!!!)
[Verse 1: Papoose
The soldiers get trained by the lieutenant
The lieutenant get all his orders from the Captain
General, when I was young I got drafted
Sent to the army of Brooklyn those bastards
Fallen soldiers my homies lay in caskets
They couldn't survive the Heat just like the Mavericks
And I don't buy Wolf tickets from niggas
But niggas be wolfin so I walk around with my Clippers
Some of my people was alive for my struggle
But didn't live to see my success
They wanted to see me make it but got stripped naked
And laid in the morgue cause of death
So yo now that I'm successful how could I celebrate it
They died early so in their eyes I never made it
I ain't gonna give you my life you gotta take it
Soldier, I'm goin out blazin
[Chorus: Akon]
I'm a ghetto soldier, desperado!!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, my gun sing oh!!!!!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, how wise and cold!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, my mind sing oh!!!!!! (HEY!!!)
[Verse 2: Papoose] (Akon)
We said the same thing at the same time I ain't knock on wood
Black cat crossed my path my luck's still good
Broke a mirror I ain't get seven years of bad luck
Nothin bad ain't even happened my left eye jumped
Put my hat on the bed when I walked in the room
Swept my feet and I didn't even spit on the broom
What I'm tryin to say is I'm not superstitious
Akon what am I? (I'm a Ghetto soldier)
My right hand itchin been had money kid
I even opened the umbrella in the crib
Bought my girl some shoes she didn't walk out of my life
No bad luck I skipped the Po twice
No superstition just wise intuition
On the battlefield, get killed to do the killin
By the way my good luck charm is a biscuit
Ghetto soldier till the endin
[Bridge: Akon]
I don't like to fuss or fight, just tryin to live life right
Don't take my kindness for weakness cause I will take your life
First I will walk away, unless you push me to play
That's somethin I know you'll regret so please don't forget
[Chorus: Akon]
I'm a ghetto soldier, desperado!!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, my gun sing oh!!!!!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, how wise and cold!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, my mind sing oh!!!!!! (HEY!!!)
[Verse 3: Papoose]
No pain no gain all the trauma is killin me
Pain can't swim that's why I drown in the Hennesey
Tied to the enemy run in your crib slump you in your fireplace
And have smoke comin out of your chimney
I can see straight through your plot and your trickery
It don't mean shit to me
I'm tryin to get to the bottom of it
But I lost a whole lot of my energy
Tryin to get to the bottom of a bottomless industry
Nowadays all I got is my pride and my dignity
You ridin with sympathy they say misery needs company
Why keep them company you kiddin me?
When I can grab a weapon and put him out of his misery
Send shots at you to tell you I'm not playin
When you fire back you let me know what you sayin
This gun bustin it's like an unspoken language
We communicate with our gun this shit is dangerous
[Chorus: Akon]
I'm a ghetto soldier, desperado!!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, my gun sing oh!!!!!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, how wise and cold!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, my mind sing oh!!!!!! (HEY!!!)
You wanna go to war let's get it in
If war bring peace I'm with it then
I don't start beef I finish it
Ghetto soldiers we militant
[Akon]:
I don't like to fuss or fight, just tryin to live life right
Don't take my kindness for weakness cause I will take your life
First I will walk away, unless you push me to play
That's somethin I know you'll regret so please don't forget
[Chorus: Akon]
I'm a ghetto soldier, desperado!!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, my gun sing oh!!!!!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, how wise and cold!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, my mind sing oh!!!!!! (HEY!!!)
[Verse 1: Papoose
The soldiers get trained by the lieutenant
The lieutenant get all his orders from the Captain
General, when I was young I got drafted
Sent to the army of Brooklyn those bastards
Fallen soldiers my homies lay in caskets
They couldn't survive the Heat just like the Mavericks
And I don't buy Wolf tickets from niggas
But niggas be wolfin so I walk around with my Clippers
Some of my people was alive for my struggle
But didn't live to see my success
They wanted to see me make it but got stripped naked
And laid in the morgue cause of death
So yo now that I'm successful how could I celebrate it
They died early so in their eyes I never made it
I ain't gonna give you my life you gotta take it
Soldier, I'm goin out blazin
[Chorus: Akon]
I'm a ghetto soldier, desperado!!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, my gun sing oh!!!!!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, how wise and cold!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, my mind sing oh!!!!!! (HEY!!!)
[Verse 2: Papoose] (Akon)
We said the same thing at the same time I ain't knock on wood
Black cat crossed my path my luck's still good
Broke a mirror I ain't get seven years of bad luck
Nothin bad ain't even happened my left eye jumped
Put my hat on the bed when I walked in the room
Swept my feet and I didn't even spit on the broom
What I'm tryin to say is I'm not superstitious
Akon what am I? (I'm a Ghetto soldier)
My right hand itchin been had money kid
I even opened the umbrella in the crib
Bought my girl some shoes she didn't walk out of my life
No bad luck I skipped the Po twice
No superstition just wise intuition
On the battlefield, get killed to do the killin
By the way my good luck charm is a biscuit
Ghetto soldier till the endin
[Bridge: Akon]
I don't like to fuss or fight, just tryin to live life right
Don't take my kindness for weakness cause I will take your life
First I will walk away, unless you push me to play
That's somethin I know you'll regret so please don't forget
[Chorus: Akon]
I'm a ghetto soldier, desperado!!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, my gun sing oh!!!!!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, how wise and cold!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, my mind sing oh!!!!!! (HEY!!!)
[Verse 3: Papoose]
No pain no gain all the trauma is killin me
Pain can't swim that's why I drown in the Hennesey
Tied to the enemy run in your crib slump you in your fireplace
And have smoke comin out of your chimney
I can see straight through your plot and your trickery
It don't mean shit to me
I'm tryin to get to the bottom of it
But I lost a whole lot of my energy
Tryin to get to the bottom of a bottomless industry
Nowadays all I got is my pride and my dignity
You ridin with sympathy they say misery needs company
Why keep them company you kiddin me?
When I can grab a weapon and put him out of his misery
Send shots at you to tell you I'm not playin
When you fire back you let me know what you sayin
This gun bustin it's like an unspoken language
We communicate with our gun this shit is dangerous
[Chorus: Akon]
I'm a ghetto soldier, desperado!!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, my gun sing oh!!!!!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, how wise and cold!!!
I'm a ghetto soldier, my mind sing oh!!!!!! (HEY!!!)
Lyrics submitted by SumitS
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
This is a wonderful song that explains how the ghetto really is. Wonderful job on their part. This song means that being in the ghetto takes alot of heart and pride of being a soldier.